Lachlann MacTaggart
After eight years of competitive swimming at regional and national level, Lachlann recently moved his focus to triathlon and and is competing at regional and South Island age group level.
A swimmer’s life is all about organisation and attention to detail. Training requires lots of early morning starts and travel.
Lachlann has applied this discipline to his studies. He was junior dux in year 10 and completed a very ambitious Level 3 materials technology project in year 12.
Lachlann has also played hockey, soccer, futsal and volleyball and attended many quad tournaments, exchanges and sports events.
His leadership skills were nurtured in the William Pike Challenge (a youth leadership programme), and he went on to earn bronze and silver Duke Of Edinburgh awards.
He was a Clutha House junior leader and house leader and this year became a prefect and sports prefect.
Outside of school, he combined his water and leadership skills to work as a lifeguard and shift leader at the Cromwell Swim Centre.
Lachlann said his best achievement so far was finishing second in 50m freestyle at New Zealand Division 2 championships in 2019, followed by a win in the Makos zone relay team for the 8 x 50m zonal relay.
If he's not at school, training in the pool or on a bike, you will most likely find him up a mountain with skis or a snowboard in hand.
Achievements: New Zealand Swimming Division 2 Nationals second in 50m free, first in Otago region relay (2019); competitor in numerous regional and national swimming and triathon competition (2019-2022); overall diligence and year 10 certificate with excellence (2019); first in class materials technology, physical education; merit endorsement in science, maths, excellence endorsement in physical education (2020); overall diligence award, first in class materials technology, merit endorsement in chemistry, mathematics, physics (2021); Young family trophy for swimming (2018-19); Reddy family trophy from Cromwell College Team of the Year (2020-21); winner Cromwell College cross country (2020-22); winner Cromwell College swimming sports (2019-21), Clutha House captain (2021,2022), sports committee (2021).
Role model: If there's someone out enjoying the outdoors Lachlann would aspire to be living a life like them.
Hope for the future: Lachlann is planning to pursue an engineering or design career. Later in life, he hopes to travel the world and ski back-to-back winters.
Eve Drinnan
Cromwell College prefect Eve grew up locally and has spent her summers at the lake and winters up the mountain.
"Spending time outdoors maintains my fitness and happiness," she said.
Dancing has also been a big part of her life.
"From ballet to hip-hop, I have danced competitively, gaining awards for many years. Dancing will always be a happy place of mine," she said.
One of her big focuses this year was the KICK campaign, created by the prefect team.
KICK stands for kindness, inclusivity, care and kawa (Maori etiquette) and the values have been promoted through videos, activities, and school fundraising days.
Outside school, Eve has held two part-time jobs. She spent two summer seasons with Moorpark & Mulberry Orchard before taking on a cafe and front desk role at Highlands Motorsports Park.
"Gaining the majority of my high school qualifications during a pandemic has meant that I’ve had to be flexible, resilient and hard-working. I’ve carried these skills out of the lockdowns and back into the classroom environment," she said.
Eve also babysits, helps out at Goldfields Primary School, and umpires and coaches junior hockey.
Achievement List: Cromwell College prefect (2022); sports prefect (2022); Level 1 with merit endorsement; Level 2 with merit endorsement (2021); First in class and distinction history, mathematics, earth and space science (2021); First in class and Distinction geography (2020); Cromwell College Formal Committee chairwoman (2022); Cromwell College Sports Council (2020, 2021, 2022); Kawarau House Captain (2021); Cromwell Hockey Club senior A captain (2022); Central Otago Hockey Team (2014; 2015); Central Otago Representative Hockey Collier Team (2016); Central Otago Representative Hockey Collier Team (2017); Central Otago u13, u15, u18 Hockey teams (2018, 2019, 2020); Otago Country u18 Hockey Team (2022); Cromwell Hockey Club Team player of the year (2017; 2018); Cromwell College most valuable Junior Hockey player (2018); Cromwell College most valuable Volleyball Player (2019); Cromwell College outstanding performance in triathalon award (2018); Cromwell College year 12 athletics champ (2021); Otago Secondary School athletics second place high jump (2020); Upper Clutha Competition Dance Troupe member, competed at the Hip-Hop Unite National Competition (2021); Kapa Haka leadership award (2018); Level 1 vocal performance excellence (2020); Grade 5 Royal Academy of Dance Ballet with distinction (2017); Grade 6 RAD Ballet with merit (2018); Duke Of Edinburgh bronze award (2020); Duke of Edinburgh silver award (2021); William Pike Award (2019); Duke of Edinburgh Gold Award in progress (2022).
Role Models: "Mum and Dad"
Hopes for the future: "Next year I plan to study law and psychology. I also hope to travel the world."
