He did ``all right'' at school, says 29-year-old Danny Garrett, but for this locally raised boy the future is looking very bright after being awarded the New Zealand Institute of Food Science and Technology gold medal for his study in dairy technology at Massey University.
Neil Walker, chairman of the dairy section of the institute, says as far as he is aware Danny is the first from this area to have achieved the accolade.
Danny was also named top student in dairy chemistry and dairy microbiology in 2010.
After school Danny apprenticed as a chef and worked in the industry for five years before taking a position at Fonterra eight years ago.
He says a career as a chef was not conducive with having a young family. He lives in Hawera with partner Shona and two boys, Pagen, 12 and Giovanni, 5.
Danny says he enrolled for the three-year diploma in dairy technology, run over 12 weeks during winter, for his family and the ``challenge of it''.
``My family drives me. The better I can do, the better life I can make for them.''
He says he never worked for an award, but that he did study hard to achieve good marks. ``I was not even aware that there are awards. I was quite surprised, and quite chuffed.''
Neil says Danny ``knocked their socks off with his marks'' and that he is worthy of the significant honour.
``The dairy industry is past the days of hands just working. ``We want intelligent, capable people. Many senior staff at Fonterra have started this way,'' says Neil.
One is Danny's boss, Carlos Kumeroa, production manager process cheese, who is doing a masters at Massey.
Danny says he has not decided yet on ``the next step'' but that there are numerous possibilities, here and abroad, in a company such as Fonterra. In the future he says he sees himself in a managerial position.
The award was presented to Danny on Friday by Fonterra director David MacLeod, who is also Danny's uncle. Danny also received $2000 towards travel or tuition fees.
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