The 10th anniversary of the Mana Pounamu Young Achievers Awards was celebrated in Dunedin last night.
Former award-winner Kanoa Lloyd, of Auckland, was a keynote speaker at the latest award function, at the University of Otago College of Education Auditorium. She is a presenter for Sticky TV, a New Zealand children's and teen programme, which aims to provide positive role models as well as tips on cooking and other life skills.
The annual awards provide recognition of the achievements and potential of Maori youth in secondary schools throughout Otago, with both junior and senior awards given.
Winners of senior awards are offered three-year tuition-paid scholarships at Otago Polytechnic and several winners of junior awards also received AgResearch scholarships to support participation in the Otago University Hands on Science week early next year.
The awards were established through the vision of the late Alva Kapa and aim to encourage more young Maori to participate in tertiary study.
Mrs Kapa's daughter Janine Kapa, a member of the awards organising committee, said the awards had won growing regional recognition, and about 500 family members and supporters had also been attending the events in recent years.
Award winners were. -
Logan Park High School, Sequoia Cunningham (junior), Cameron Vercoe-Groenen (senior); Cromwell College, Brooke Takimoana (junior), Annalyse Shaw (senior); Kavanagh College, John Thorn (junior), Samara Gallaher (senior); Kings High School, Taikawa Tamati-Elliffe (junior), Angus Knox (senior); Dunstan High School, Gabrielle Butler (junior), Nakia Randle (senior); Blue Mountain College, Mariah Carey-Broad (senior); Tokomairiro High School, Samantha Allen (junior); Roxburgh Area School, Brieanna Bennetts (senior); Otago Girls' High School, Jordan Klenner (junior), Lisa Lyman (senior); South Otago High School, Awhina Hotene (junior), Jemaig Bell (senior); Maniototo Area School, Destiny Brensell (junior), Zion Napier (senior); Kaikorai Valley College, Sarah Thomas (senior); Waitaki Girls' High School, Paige Chellew (senior); Taieri College, Emma Jayne Hitchcock (junior), Kathryn Gale (senior); Waitaki Boys' High School, Caleb Dudley (senior); East Otago High School, Isaac Williamson (junior), Jayde Moir (senior); Bayfield High School, Eleanor Baxter (junior), Jodie Hope (senior); Columba College, Vienna Sutherland (junior), Greer Parslow-Boyd (senior); Otago Boys' High School, Hoani Iva-Keen (junior); Queens High School, Steffanie McAuley (junior), Nicole Bradley (senior); St Hilda's Collegiate School, Renae Wharehinga (junior), Jasmine Knowles (senior).
