Jesse Valpy
The St Kevin’s College cricketer and footballer’s first passion has always been sport and it has taught him valuable lessons.
"You learn lots of good lessons about resilience and getting back up after you get knocked down," Jesse said.
"You learn about hard work and the importance of that."
The 17-year-old is talented in both arenas, playing for St Kevin’s first XI cricket team since 2019, under-15 and under-17 representative cricket for North Otago and the North Otago A side this year. He has played first XI football since 2020, and been captain since 2021, and represented Waitaki and South Canterbury.
Learning has also helped him dig deeper into his favourite subject — English.
"You learn lots of lessons — you look at lots of different perspectives from different people, especially when you look at texts that are from maybe a while ago that you can still see how the problems or themes within those texts are very relevant today."
His love for the written word has opened doors for him — Jesse won the Dooley Family Cup for scripture reading in 2020, and he has competed in debating and impromptu and prepared speech in the Bishop’s Shield since 2018.
Jesse is St Kevin’s head boy and said it had been a special privilege, allowing him to give back to the community.
He plans to attend the University of Otago to study for a bachelor of art and science, majoring in sport development and management, and English.
Achievements: Head boy (2022); NCEA Levels 1 and 2 with excellence; member of student council (2020); bronze service award (2021); Bishop’s Shield debating, impromptu and prepared speech (2018-22), Dooley Family Cup for scripture reading (2020); St Kevin’s College first XI cricket (2019-22); St Kevin’s College first XI football (2020-22); St Kevin’s College first XI football captain (2021-22), St Kevin’s College Still Fair Play Cup football (2021); St Kevin’s College junior XI cricket coach (2021-22); Waitaki 15th grade football (2019); South Canterbury under-16 football (2021); North Otago under-15 cricket (2018-19); North Otago under-17 cricket (2020-21); North Otago A cricket team (2022).
Role model: My father, he taught me the importance of hard work and dedication, and author J.R.R. Tolkien. Tolkien’s way of conveying important themes, along with the beauty and authenticity of his works and their influence on the wider world, encourage me to remain genuine and unafraid to live my own life.
Hopes for the future: Something sport related, coaching, giving back, doing what I can to help others in that way.
Cushla Bridges
The St Kevin’s College head girl is a netballer, ballet dancer and debater, all while having a strong passion for the environment and tramping.
Growing up on a farm, Cushla’s mother felt she had "gumboot feet" and sent her to ballet to fix them — but it became an art form that taught her a lot.
"It’s very challenging, incredibly difficult ... but it also pays testament to your patience as well," she said.
She enjoyed pushing herself, and tramping, and taking part in the Duke of Edinburgh — where she won silver and bronze awards — allowed that.
"I think that the boundaries that you set yourself are really just boundaries. You can go a lot further."
Last year, she was the head of St Kevin’s Leos club, creating 12 birdhouses for Oamaru’s Signal Hill, and organised the planting of 5000 trees.
"I think that for the amount that we take away from the environment to give back is really cool."
A naturally strong leader, Cushla aspired to be head girl since she was at intermediate and was grateful to fulfil the role this year.
Next year she will attend the University of Otago, studying a bachelor of art and science, majoring in genetics and minoring in computer science.
"I’m really interested in the whole biology side of anatomy. Genetics is obviously an incredibly interest part that is developing."
Achievements: Head girl (2022); NCEA Levels 1 and 2 with excellence; St Kevin’s service award, gold, silver and bronze; Bishop’s Shield best debating team, best speaker, best team leader (20220; Bishop’s Shield debating best team leader and overall winning team (2021); St Kevin’s best debater, best female speaker, St Kevin’s plate of college life, diligence award, top in drama, top in art, Dooley Cup for speech (2021); St Kevin’s head of ball committee (2022); head of Leos Oamaru (2021); Outstanding Girl Boss member (2021-22); Girl Boss full scholarship for communication program; Spirit of Adventure, elected captain (2022); Hands on Otago participant (2022); Duke of Edinburgh bronze and silver award; ballet RDA grade 1-6 excellence, BBO grade 7-8 excellence, 8 merit, medal test 1-3 senior excellence; Otago netball representative 2017; Maheno Netball Club most promising under-21 player (2021); highly commended Oamaru Speech Awards (2018), grades 1-5 highly commended.
Role model: I have role models in different parts — my father’s work ethic, my mother’s kindness, David Attenborough’s passion and Michelle Obama’s wisdom.
Hopes for the future: I think it would be really cool to be part of a break through of something — highly unrealistic.
