VICTORIA BOULT
2013: At 15, Boult was already studying NCEA level 3 English, two years ahead of her peers. As well as taking lead roles in school and community productions, she made short films with her friends. Her goal was to be a film director.
2023: Boult is the drama development executive for Great Southern Television in Auckland, helping to look after the scripted drama and comedy television shows the company has in development. The job involves meeting new screenwriters and giving feedback on scripts. She is also an independent screenwriter and director. Recently, she and producer Rachel Fawcett received almost $1.5million from NZ On Air to turn their TikTok series, n00b, into a TV series. Boult, who has an arts degree (first-class hons) from the University of Sydney, says the series was a "nostalgic love letter to 2005".
SOPHIE LAKE
2013: Lake was named the most promising performer at the Sheilah Winn Shakespeare Festival in Invercargill and her film about a teenager with Down’s syndrome won the people’s choice award at a national film competition. She planned to study drama and continue film-making.
2023: Lake lives in Glasgow, where she works for LGTB Health and Wellbeing, an organisation that supports mental health for LGBTQIA+ people in Scotland. This involves running events to support wellbeing and providing one-on-one support sessions. She is also studying towards a qualification in counselling and psychotherapy. She has an arts degree in development studies, international relations and religious studies, and a master’s in politics.
The following 2013 recipients could not be contacted or declined to take part: Katie Short (Cromwell College), Jamie Hume and Rhian Ward (Dunstan High School), Kelly Tweed (Lawrence Area School), Lachie Edwards (Maniototo Area School), Tamahi Phillips (Tokomairaro High School), Olivia Hay (Waitaki Girls’ High School).
