Identifying leaders of tomorrow: Class Act 2022

Otago Daily Times

The Otago Daily Times’ Class Act initiative shines a light on the outstanding young talent we have in our region and we are excited we can shake off the shackles of Covid and honour these achievers.

Class Act 2012: Ten years on

Class Act celebrates the excellence of young people in our province and now, more than ever, we will be looking to them for leadership.

It’s been a difficult and challenging few years and makes us acutely aware of the importance and value of education, science and strong leadership. The youth of the region have a big responsibility, for the future is in their hands. It is from this talented and ambitious group our future leaders in politics, arts, business, education and sports will emerge. The Otago Daily Times Class Act programme began in 2000, with 26 of the 29 high schools in the newspaper’s primary circulation area each selecting one or two outstanding pupils to join that year’s class.

In this, its 23rd year, 27 schools are participating. Between them, they have nominated 56 pupils as representative of the cream of Otago’s secondary school elite in 2022.

Class Act has been a particularly rewarding journey for the Otago Daily Times. It was introduced to the newspaper by former editor Robin Charteris.

We are also delighted the programme has been acknowledged by the University of Otago. This year’s award recipients will receive an automatic entitlement to a University of Otago Leaders of Tomorrow Scholarship for 2022.

We take pride in seeing and reading, through the columns of this newspaper, of the milestones and achievements of our Class Act recipients as they make their way into adult life.

On Thursday afternoon, at a special awards ceremony, the pupils will come together as a class and, individually, be presented with Class Act 2022 certificates by the Prime Minister, Jacinda Ardern.

We are proud the present Prime Minister has continued the tradition and agreed to be our guest speaker at the calling together of these outstanding pupils. The Prime Minister’s presence is an honour for Otago and testament to the excellence of these young people.

The students were nominated by their schools on the basis of their achievements and potential for success in adult life. The only criterion the newspaper gives the schools is excellence.

The 56 pupils nominated for awards have been photographed and profiled on the following pages of this publication. We trust you enjoy reading it and, like us, are inspired and encouraged by the young people featured.

The future is bright.

Barry Stewart

Editor

Otago Daily Times

Excellence at the University of Otago

Tauira from around Aotearoa choose to come to the University of Otago for many good reasons. For 153 years we have been offering world-class qualifications that are the gateway to very successful careers and enriched lives.

Excellent, inspiring teachers are central to ensuring that we remain at the forefront of universities in teaching. In a feat unsurpassed by any other university in the country, our leading teachers have won the Prime Minister’s Supreme Award for tertiary teaching excellence seven of the previous 10 years.

I began my journey as an 18-year-old student at Otago. I can personally attest that we offer a well-rounded education that prepares young people for the changing world we live in. At Otago, our goal is to support and encourage our students to become successful, socially minded people who will go on to contribute to their communities and society, both here and overseas.

Should today’s Class Act recipients choose to come to the University of Otago we are delighted to offer them a guaranteed $6000 Leaders of Tomorrow Scholarship, as a minimum.

Let me be among the first to congratulate the 2022 Class Act recipients. Each of you has an excellent and exciting future and I hope that you enjoy your day.

By University of Otago vice-chancellor Prof David Murdoch