Tauranga woman Oceane Branson receives top Graeme Dingle Foundation honour

Oceane Branson accepting her award. Photo/Supplied

Oceane Branson never thought she would go to university - now her achievements since leaving school have earned her the Graeme Dingle Foundation supreme alumni award.

Oceane received the top honours at the Graeme Dingle Foundation Regional Excellence Awards this week.

Branson says she was just a shy 14-year-old when she joined the Graeme Dingle Foundation's Project K in 2009.

"I didn't open up to a lot of people. I don't think I realised my true potential and what I was capable of achieving," she said.

"I grew so much over 12 months. I learned so much about myself. It made a big impact on me."

Branson went on to study a Bachelor of Business and majored in event management.

"I never thought I would go to uni," she said.

Then she surprised herself and signed up for a student exchange on Canada.

"I just keep challenging myself," she said.

After completing her degree, Branson went to Australia where she got a job in the hotel industry and became one of the top sales representatives for the company.

Branson wanted a change and decided to complete her internship with the organisation as a youth mentor last year.

Oceane Branson at the awards ceremony in Mount Maunganui. Photo/Supplied

The 24-year-old former Otumoetai College student said she had felt proud to pass on what she had learned to the students she had mentored.

"It was something I felt passionate about. It was so rewarding," she said.

"They know I had been in their shoes and I knew what they were going through at each point of the journey," she said.

Branson has since moved back to Australia with her family where she is about to start a new job at CISaustralia which provides overseas study, intern and volunteer programmes for Australian university students.

Her advice to her 14-year-old self is "don't give up".

"When I was 14 I hadn't given up, but I thought that was just how life was going to be," she said.

"Now my life is the best it can be."

Graeme Dingle Foundation Bay of Plenty regional manager Dan Allen-Gordon said Branson was well deserving of the award.

"She is a high achiever," he said. "She gives everything a go and continues to challenge herself. She is a good ambassador for what we do."

The Volunteer award went to Alasdair Christie who has been with the organisation for 15 years. Photo/Supplied

The Graeme Dingle Foundation Regional Excellence Awards were announced on September 26 at ASB stadium.

The volunteer award went to Alasdair Christie who is the last founding trustee of the trust from 2004.

"He has been with us for 15 years and deserves recognition," Allen-Gordon said.

Kiwi Can Excellence award winners:
Damian Akaroa from Te Puke Intermediate for Integrity
Tia Madison Pearson-Te Riini from Papamoa Primary for Respect
Daniel Medcalf from Mount Maunganui Intermediate for Resilience
Ella Hammond from Papamoa Primary for Positive Relationships
Outstanding Kiwi Can Leader team were Hannah-Marie Weston and Max McLaren
Outstanding Kiwi Can School went to Brookfield Primary
Stars programme Excellence in outstanding participation in year 9 is Phoebe Dougherty from Otumoetai College
Stars Excellence in Peer mentoring went to Charlotte Funnell from Otumoetai College
Project K Excelence award to Kane Avery from Otumoetai College
Project K Excellence award to Brylee Comer from mount Maunganui College
The Don Young Award for outstanding volunteer went to Alasdair Christie from 15 years as a Trustee
Alumni Excellence award went to Project K graduate Oceane Branson