Jamie Scott – Wellington College, Year 13
Jamie is a keen tramper who has shown leadership through the school’s tramping club. Heavily involved with local Scouts – both as a youth leader at the Kea Club and assistant leader at Venturer’s. Jamie is an excellent team player and a valuable part of the school’s social football team, ultimate frisbee and pickleball (An indoor/outdoor racket sport, played with wooden paddles and the ball is similar to a plastic wiffle ball.)
Harry Lancaster – Wellington College, Year 13
As a prefect Harry is a peer support leader and tutor. He is a talented sportsperson being vice-captain of the 2nd XI cricket team as well as participating in football, Surf Lifesaving Inflatable Rescue Boat racing and Eastern Suburbs Cricket premier reserve cricket. Harry coaches junior cricket and has shown great leadership skills through his involvement in the tramping club and outdoor education.
Vidthia Beaglehole, Kauri Sekido and Joshua Toumu’a – Wellington High School, Year 12
The trio worked together to plan and raise money for Unicef and their mahi for the victims of the war in Ukraine. They raised almost $2000 in a day by arranging for the sale of donated goods including second-hand clothing, food, books and bric-a-brac.
Marianna Boless – St Mary’s College, Year 11
Marianna is a vibrant student who is able to engage with girls at all levels, and is a talented and engaging MC. As one of the school’s ‘Tech Angels’ she is responsible for setting up visual and sound equipment for school assemblies. Marianna is also an active member of the Social Action Committee – helping to organise special character events for the school ranging from Mass services to community outreach programmes that involve collecting second hand clothing for people in Ukraine and Tonga and canned food for St Vincent De Paul.
Baxter Neill – Tawa College, Year 11
This year Baxter won Bronze at the Nestlé Golden Chef Hat competition and a Silver at the National Secondary Schools Culinary regional event. Baxter is a foodie and through his love of food he connects with students, staff and members of the community. Baxter is responsible for setting up the Food Club, which plans, creates and serves lunches, with the proceeds going to charity. In 2021, he was responsible for planning and preparing the desserts for the School Leavers Dinner.
Kaita Hummel-Jibiki – Tawa College, Year 12
Kaita is an outstanding academic student who fully involves himself in all aspects of college life. Kaita is involved with debating, as well as being involved with both choral and barbershop groups at the college, the yearbook committee, a philosophy club, badminton, Amnesty International, and Tawa College News (video of college events, sports games, concerts, dance performances etc shot by students and then edited, uploaded and shared with the college community). He has represented the school at numerous events, including this year’s NIWA Science Fair. Kaita is also involved in environmental work within the community and has recently been appointed to the student representative on the Tawa College Board.
Niamh Hanna – Scots College, Year 13
Niamh has made an outstanding contribution to the community through her commitment to lifeguarding, committing every Sunday completing her Inflatable Rescue Boat Driver Licence. Niamh is the first female in her club to reach this standard and is now heavily involved in training other lifeguards for Crewman’s and Driver’s qualifications. In January, Niamh received an Award of Excellence for her involvement in a rescue at Riversdale Beach during one of her patrols. This year, Niamh became a Royal Life Saving NZ instructor.
As well as being a surf lifeguard and lifesaving, Niamh also helps coach the under-12 Waterpolo Team for the Harbour City Waterpolo Club.
Charlotte Horner – Queen Margaret College, Year 12
Charlotte is someone for whom service is an important part of her life. She set up the Butterfly Project to raise money for Wellington Children’s Hospital, successfully raising more than $5,000, with a goal of raising $10,000. She also raised a further $5000 for in honour of a student who was tragically killed at a Dunedin student party. Charlotte is an active member of the basketball team and has taken up leadership roles throughout the school, to promote wellbeing.
Divya Srinivasa – Queen Margaret College, Year 11
Divya has made a significant contribution to her school with her kind, caring and generous outlook. She has created a comprehensive ‘How To’ guide to help improve digital literacy among the older generation. The handbook provides a step-by-step guide on how to use cellphones to perform day to day tasks like internet banking, as well as useful phone features and apps. She has funded the printing and distribution of the book. Divya has also volunteered at the Save the Children Fair as well the school’s after-school care programme for junior students and is also a member of the Wellbeing Student Rōpū.
Rama Awad - Wellington Girls’ College, Year 12
Earlier this year Rama organised a social media campaign, raising awareness of islamophobia in New Zealand. Rama’s petition received more than 90,000 signatures calling for schools and the Ministry of Education to take action against Islamophobic bullying. It was incredibly significant.
Maddalena Dal Sasso – Wellington Girls’ College, Year 12
Over the past three years Maddalena has spent her spare time learning about environmental issues and solutions. She has volunteered more than 500 hours on her local urban farm’s Kaicycle composting scheme. Maddalena is involved in tree plantings and the extermination of exotic, invasive and noxious weeds. She uses this knowledge to educate others. Maddalena is also organising a food waste audit at her school, as well as helping to install well-managed recycling and food waste bins, native tree planting and regular clean-ups.
Nathan Quito – St Patrick’s College (Town) – Year 13
As co-head of the school’s Environmental Group, Nathan organised a beach clean-up in Petone with Year 11 students from his own school alongside those from St Mary’s and St Pat’s Silverstream. The event was such a success they arranged another clean-up at Lyall Bay beach. Nathan is also the student rep on the Board of Trustees.
Nescy Dela Cruz – St Catherine’s College – Year 12
Nescy has consistently shown leadership and commitment. Keen to promote her culture she was responsible for jointly setting up a Filipino Group and organising a religious service and celebration for Filipino Language Week. Nescy is active in her wider Filipino community, through a choir in Newtown and her church in Wainuiomata. Nescy also provides support to younger students. She has played both badminton and volleyball for the school. She is also involved in volunteering, notably at the Wellington City Mission’s Social Supermarket.