Young Achievers Announced for 2010 | infonews.co.nz New Zealand News

The achievements of dozens of extraordinary young people have been recognised at an awards ceremony.

The Young Achievers Awards 2010 selects winners and commendations in 10 categories, plus the Mayor’s Choice Awards, in fields as diverse as the arts, eco-friendly work, sports, youth development and employee/trainee of the year.

Mayor Harry Duynhoven says the Young Achievers Awards is a great opportunity to formally recognise the talents, efforts and dedication of those aged between 12 and 25 in New Plymouth District.

“We have a lot to be proud of in our young people,” says Mayor Duynhoven. “The recipients of these awards are just an indication of the breadth and depth of talent and positive effort that exists in our district’s young residents.

“I also want to acknowledge the work of the Youth Subcommittee which has excelled itself by organising these awards for another year.”

The winners of the Young Achievers Awards 2010 are:

Eco-Friendly Award

Winner Sarah Harris (New Plymouth)
Sarah has shown fantastic commitment and dedication to caring for the environment. She has both organised and participated in a number of eco-friendly initiatives. She was a Coastal Ambassador for the 2010 Care for the Coast beach clean-ups, which entailed recruiting volunteers, promoting the event and physically getting involved in the clean-up. She represented Taranaki at the Youth Environmental Leaders forum and is the chair of the New Plymouth Girls’ High School (NPGHS) Environment Council. Sarah led the organising of the highly successful NPGHS 2010 Earth Hour and both founded and monitored the schools anti-litter programme.

Community Service Award

Winner Kurt Komene (NP)
Kurt selflessly shares his skills and attributes with the community. Throughout his life he has been taught to nurture his elders and this has encouraged him to give back whole heartedly to the kaumatua of Taranaki. He teaches, with the utmost grace and patience, elderly individuals and groups aspects of both Maori culture and tikanga to help reclaim important Maori knowledge and a sense of identity. He teaches te reo Maori, kapa haka, whaikorero, weaving and traditional Maori games. The groups he works with truly consider what Kurt does as a great community service, helping to bring out and build on strengths that exist in our community.

Cultural Development Award

Winner Te Roopu Kapa Haka o Whaitara (Waitara)
Reforming in April 2009, Te Roopu Kapa Haka o Whaitara has gone on to excel and become highly valued in both Waitara High School and the wider community. In 2009 they placed second at the Pae Rangatahi competitions in Whanganui, which gained them entry to the secondary schools’ national kapa haka competition. This year the roopu won the Manu Ariki Kapa Haka national competition, opened the 2010 Waitangi Day celebrations at Puke Ariki, and performed at the Americana Festival where their performance was filmed for an American television programme. The roopu have created a sense of pride and commitment to kapa haka in the community for all ages and backgrounds. They are cultural ambassadors for Waitara High School and the Waitara community.

Super Student Award

Winner Paige Muggeridge (NP)
Paige is considered an outstanding student with a vibrant and confident manner, and the ability to bring out the best in others. She is currently Head Girl at NPGHS and has the utmost respect from her peers and teaching staff alike. Paige is very focused on her academic results and as a Year 12 student completed NCEA 1, 2 and 3 all with excellence, her university entrance and two New Zealand scholarship subjects. This year as a Year 13 student she entered in six New Zealand scholarship subjects and extra NCEA level 3 subjects she had not previously taken. Her current grade average of the year to date is 100. She has been a top scholar for each of her five years at the school. Her qualities extend to her involvement in a wide range of school pursuits from school productions, school committees, musicals, fundraisers, house events and cultural events. Paige is described by her Year 13 deputy principal as the most rounded and capable student she has found in more than 27 years of teaching.

Highly Commended Super Student: Cameron Lacey (Inglewood)
Cameron has leadership qualities and a level of maturity that sets him apart from his peers. He is currently the Head Boy of Inglewood High School and the student representative on the school’s Board of Trustees. He is highly regarded and well-liked by all students and staff. In 2009 Cameron was chosen to attend the Global Young Leaders Conference in Washington DC and New York. This year he was also selected to attend the Model United Nations Conference in Wellington, representing both his school and wider district. He has represented the province nationally as a swimmer, he coaches junior top level swimmers, is a member of the Rugby Academy and plays both the trombone and piano. He is supremely organised and a high-achieving super student.
Highly Commended Super Student: Tama Porter (Waitara)
Tama is a year 13 student at Waitara High School. He has excelled as a top achieving student for every year at the school. He is a gifted musician who passed level 1 music in year 10, level 2 in year 11 and level 3 music during year 12. He is sitting scholarship music and biology as well as studying chemistry, math with statistics, history and english. Tama represented Waitara High School at the opening of the New Plymouth Cathedral and was awarded first placing in four categories in piano at the New Plymouth Arts competition in July. Tama is the deputy head boy and a prefect helping to support younger students and acts as a peer tutor. Tama is a super student who has the respect of both staff and students alike.

Female Sports Achievement Award

Winner Thea Awhitu (NP)
Thea is a member of the Box Office Boxing Club and has been competing only since April 2009. In this time she has become the top junior female boxer in New Zealand. She is undefeated in 11 bouts and has won numerous titles, including the Central North Island champion title 2009, the North Island Golden Glove Champion 2009, the North Island Novice Champion 2009, the Manawatu Champion 2009 and the Waikato Champion 2009. She was the first female to represent Taranaki at the National Boxing Championships and was the first female from Taranaki to win the Female Cadet New Zealand championship. She has been invited to attend the training camp for the NZ Female Elite Boxing Team. She made history by winning the most scientific overall junior boxer at the Manawatu Boxing Champs, an award more than 25 years old and Thea is the first female to ever win it. She is currently being considered for the first junior female world championships in May 2011.

Highly Commended Female Sport Achievement: Casey Stevens (Oakura)
Casey has shown huge commitment to her chosen discipline of Surf Life Saving, not only through competition but also through her service to the community in life guarding and swimming instruction. She has represented her club at a regional, national and international level and she looks set to be placed upon the world stage of this discipline. Casey is a role model to many in the youth community and has an absolute focus on health and well-being. Some of her other sports achievements include: Being a member of the 2009 New Zealand Knee Boarding team, first in the NZ Surf League 2010 beach flags, and representing Taranaki in cross country, road relays, round the lakes relays, the Taranaki relay team 2010, indoor netball, soccer, surfing, basketball and rowing.
Highly Commended Female Sport Achievement: Nicole Sarten (Oakura)
Nicole has been BMX racing for four years. In 2009 she competed in her first ever BMX World Champs in Australia where she made the final on her cruiser bike and finished an impressive 6th. She dedicated one full year for intensive training, consisting of two hours a day for six days a week to help improve her performance and in July 2010 she travelled to South Africa for the BMX World Championships. She competed in the 17+ women’s category on her 20” bike and came 4th, she then competed on her cruiser bike and won gold. Nicole is currently the world champion for her age group in this category.

Male Sports Achievement

Winner Julian Beardman (NP)
Julian is a top-level sportsman, coach and referee. He is a member of the SPARC Taranaki Talent Development Squad and the recipient of the Francis Douglas Memorial College Sports Blues Award in 2010. He attended the AAU Junior Olympics in Los Angeles as a member of the NZ U18 inline hockey team, winning silver in the international division. His New Zealand team won gold against Australia at Oceania inline hockey championships 2010. He has been appointed the coach of the U12 representative team to compete at the NZ Inter-regional Championships over Labour Weekend and is a member of the U18 regional team. His team won national honours at the NZ National Championships and were awarded gold. He is the senior cross country champion at Francis Douglas for 2010 and was made a sports ambassador for New Plymouth District earlier this year.

Highly Commended Male Sports Achievement: Max Williams (NP)
Max captained the New Zealand Junior Tall Blacks Team earlier this year when they competed in Germany at the Albert Schweitzer Tournament. In 2009 he captained the NZ U18 Team which competed in the Australasian Youth Olympics in Sydney, where they won bronze. Max is a Sir Edmund Hillary Scholarship recipient and has been recruited to the Pistons basketball team. He won Sportsman of the Year in 2009 at New Plymouth Boys’ High School (NPBHS), held the Head of House position and was nominated for the Daily News Sportsperson of the Year in 2009.
Highly Commended Male Sports Achievement: Dane Brooks (NP)
From an early age Dane has shown exceptional sports ability. At the age of seven he started reading his dad’s sports magazines and was hooked on the importance of nutrition and physical activity. His sports successes to date include being a member of the U15 New Plymouth Basketball rep team, the U14 Taranaki cricket team and the NPBHS junior development team; winner of the Year 9 Taranaki high jump, and competing regionally in cross country. Dane has a strong sense of fair play and responsibility when it comes to playing any of his chosen sports.

Arts Award

Winner Amy Finnigan (NP)
Amy grew a love for performing arts from a very young age and through passion and hard work has accomplished many great achievements. She represented New Zealand at the World Performing Arts championships in July 2010 in Los Angeles. She was the most successful team member, winning a major sponsorship prize to attend the New York Conservatory of Dramatic Arts. She completed her professional solo diploma in tap, ballet, jazz and musical theatre, receiving a special award for achieving 100 per cent in both jazz and ballet. She has represented her school and her region on national and international stages with an impressive list of achievements dating back to 1996. Amy has influenced many young aspiring performers in our community and she is determined to continue to strive for excellence and encourage others to follow their dreams.

Highly Commended Arts: Cameron Betts (NP)
Cameron has attention to detail and a drive for perfection. He is a 16-year-old young man who runs his own video production company. He has skills that have been utilised to film grass-roots rugby and the All Blacks’ visit to New Plymouth where he highly impressed commentary and production professionals. He has been involved with the 48-hour Film Challenge and online productions locally, and many local experts in the field view Cameron’s work as extremely professional and encourage him to peruse the field of video art. Cameron hopes to further his career by attending the New Zealand broadcasting school to build on his writing film and editing skills.
Highly Commended Arts: Waitara High School Year 11 Drama (Waitara)
The Year 11 drama class at Waitara High School had very limited drama or media exposure prior to coming together this year. The group started the year by entering and winning the Taranaki Land Wars film competition in March this year, where they won best film production, best actor and best script. Since this success they have gone on to write, storyboard, rehearse and film a modern dance piece entitled Moa Hunter, a film containing an important message about environmental sustainability. They have also recently completed the first of two instalments of a radio play entitled Barbarian of the Cosmos which has been playing on local radio and receiving fantastic reviews.

Music Award

Winner Jacob Burton (NP)
Jacob recently astonished crowds with his flute solo in the Taranaki Youth Orchestra’s Midwinter Fantasia concert in June this year. He performed a technically demanding piece (Chaminade Concertino) to a capacity audience of music lovers and experts. Jacob has been learning the flute for six years and has worked his way through the Trinity Guildhall grades and is preparing an ATCL recital programme in November, for which a high level of standard, dedication and practice is required. He has been a member of the Youth Orchestra for five years and has played in his school concert band and chamber music groups. He has won the Woodwind Scholarship in various age groups and regularly entertains local rest homes and families at Hospice. The Dame Malvina Major Foundation has supported Jacob in his musical endeavours and he is considered by many to be a fine role model for up and coming young musicians.

Highly Commended Music: Shukura Chapman (NP)
Shukura gained the highest marks in drumming grade 8 in New Zealand and the United Kingdom, recognised with silver certificates from both countries. Shukura auditioned and was accepted into a performing arts course in Australia that led to her being featured on the high-rating television programme Home and Away. She has amazing dedication and determination to succeed. She teaches drumming and dancing during the week and humbly continues to peruse her passion, making many sacrifices to keep the desire of stardom alive and well.
Highly Commended Music: Levi Lowe (NP)
Levi has a strong interest in music and has been encouraged to utilise his skills as a therapeutic intervention. Levi has persevered and overcome many social barriers in his young life. With the help of the Taranaki START programme he has addressed some generational issues and is now in a healthier, more resilient place in his life. Levi wrote and composed a song about his journey to date. After overcoming self-doubt about his ability to perform, he was encouraged to perform at a New Plymouth singer/songwriter event where he received a standing ovation from the crowd. He is now attending training workshops with the Music and Audio Institute of New Zealand and has performed on Community Radio, Access FM.

Youth Development Award

Winner Vance Hoskin (Oakura)
Vance has a natural ability to lead and encourage others, in particular other children and young people. He is a recent graduate of the Conservation Corps YMCA programme which is designed to help guide youth toward a career path. His tutor commended Vance for his leadership qualities and proactive attitude. He is passionate about physical activity and achieves in any area he applies himself to. He is a sponsored skateboarder and was nominated as player of the year for his football team. His reputation and outgoing manner recently resulted in him being asked to be the ‘youth face’ for the Taranaki-wide anti-violence campaign ‘It’s NOT OK’. Vance was selected because of his reputation and ability to connect with the youth community. He is considered a great ambassador for youth development by the Taranaki Safe Families Trust and the 25 organisations the trust represents.

Highly Commended Youth Development: Alexander Rayner (NP)
Alex has made tremendous social, personal and educational development in the previous 12 months. He finished high school with no formal education qualification, limiting his career options. Determined to prove he could do it and that he was worthy of gaining his NCEA qualification, Alex joined the Y’s Up programme at the YMCA. On this course he successfully completed and gained his NCEA levels 1 and 2 and then applied for and was accepted into employment on a Community Max project where he was part of a team that worked on building refurbishment, gaining skills in construction and painting. Alex hopes to continue to build on his skill base and achievements.

Employee/Trainee of the Year Award

Winner Katie Barriball (NP)
Katie is acknowledged for her hard work, dedication and loyalty to her employer 42 on King Hair Designers. While working there she completed her national certificate in hairdressing (completing a three-year apprenticeship) and in 2009 was put through a Leadership in Management course by the owners to further build on her natural leadership qualities. She flourished and showed so much promise she was asked to relocate to Hamilton to manage and open a second 42 on King salon. After eight months of lead work at the new salon she returned to manage the New Plymouth salon. She manages a team of six stylists who she considers a wonderful team to guide. Katie has a large client base who consistently return, not only for her hairdressing talent but for her personable nature and great sense of humour. Her employer wishes to celebrate Katie’s efforts and contributions to the success of their business.

Mayor’s Choice Award

Winner: Mikaere Gardiner (NP)
Mikaere is a young person passionate about art. He has gained great satisfaction from producing art that can be freely appreciated by the public in the form of murals around New Plymouth and the free gallery space he recently opened in town. He regularly donates his own time and materials to his murals and exhibitions, hoping to create visual stimulation and broaden the artistic range of the district. He was the Found Object section winner at the 2009 National Youth Art Awards and has completed a Bachelor of Fine Arts at WITT majoring in painting. He hopes to start his own mural business based in New Plymouth to encourage budding young artists and their families.

Winner: Kareshma Martin John Patrick (NP)
Kareshma is a 12-year-old who thrives on a passion for music. She participates in concerts and competitions in both piano and singing. Her most recent venture was in the song writing competition held by Caritas called Sing 4 Justice. Among 2,000 participants throughout New Zealand, Kareshma received a very impressive sixth, and was the only Taranaki representative to compete. She has been playing piano for six years and this year gained two third placings and one first in the 2010 Piano Competitions. In 2009 she gained the Kohine Hiranga Cup (given to the student who shows general overall achievement in Year 7), and she was also awarded the Intermediate Music Medal.

Winner: Edward Rawles (Inglewood)
Edward is an 18-year-old triathlete and a member of the New Zealand High Performance Squad. He represented New Zealand in the junior elite level in 2010 at the World Triathlon Championships in Budapest, Hungary. In 2010 his best results at the junior elite level have included a sixth place; first Kiwi home at the Trans-Tasman Challenge in Canberra, Australia; a third placing at the London Triathlon in England; and first place at the Lausanne Triathlon in Switzerland. Edward is a fine athlete who has a huge amount of determination and dedication to his sport.