Young Achievers Awards

The Young Achievers Awards, run by the Hastings Heretaunga Lions Club, were held at the Hawke's Bay Opera House in Hastings on October 7 with the naming of 22 recipients from Hastings secondary schools. The awards aim to promote the positive influence young people have in the community by acknowledging their achievements. The award winners feature in a series of pictures captured by the well-known photographer, Terry Winn, which will be on display around Hastings city over the coming weeks.

The other 12 award winners featured yesterday.

Sarah Karika, Iona College

Sarah is a natural leader who inspires others with her enthusiasm but also has an eye for detail. She is a school prefect, a house captain, on the ball committee and the student council. Sarah organised a Brite Lights team to compete in the Relay for Life, inspiring others with her commitment despite the awful conditions. She has continued her service to the wider community with an involvement in Surf Lifesaving. A talented athlete, she has had first placings in the U19 beach sprints at the northern regional, national and NZ Surf League Championship Surf Life Saving competitions, along with a second in the women's open. Then at HB/Gisborne Athletics Championships, Sarah was first in 100m, 200m and 400m and obtained placings at the North Island Secondary Schools competition in 100m and 200m distances.

Kimete Stevens, Flaxmere College

Kimete is a member of the college's Services Academy and is the sports executive on the student leadership team. He is a valuable member of the college senior band, playing the electric guitar. Kimete is working towards achieving NCEA Level 3. In May, he completed a basic leadership and introduction life skill course at the Waiouru army camp. Kimete enjoys representing the college in kapa haka, rugby, softball and basketball. He leads by example as captain of the Flaxmere college softball and 1st XV rugby teams. Kimete aims to join the NZ Army Defence Force as a rifleman.

Tameti Teweti, Flaxmere College

Tameti is head girl at Flaxmere and is the community executive on the student leadership team as well as being a member of the Hastings Youth Council. She is studying NCEA level 3, excels in physical education and has a passion for youth well-being. Tameti represents the college in basketball, netball and badminton. She captains the Senior A girls volleyball team and is a member of the Hastings Rugby and Sports Club volleyball team. She has been involved in the Pasifika group for three years and is now a Pasifika leader within the college. She is also involved in kapa haka. Tameti aims to study health science at Auckland University next year.

Francy Sulilosky, Havelock North High School

Francy is a house leader recognised for her leadership potential and all-round ability. She passed NCEA with excellence and is sitting scholarship examinations in biology, English, classical studies and history. A talented public speaker, she has taken part in the Waikato University mooting competition and will represent the school at this year's Model United Nations summit. Francy plays for the 1st XI cricket, 1st XI soccer and Senior A basketball teams. She is the school's representative on the HBSS Sports Council, Hastings District Youth Council, HNHS sports committee, HNHS Taiohi Tu Maori leadership committee, HNHS Forum senior leadership committee and is leader of the school's environmental committee. Francy is working towards her Duke of Edinburgh Gold Award and, next year, plans to study law and arts at either Auckland or Otago.

India Logan-Riley, Taikura Rudolf Steiner

India, who has a Steiner Certificate with distinction, has had many leadership roles at school including being on the school student council where she was the initiator and head of the environmental portfolio, was the co-producer/director in a drama club production and debater. She was also the organiser/supervisor of the 40hr Famine and has been on Hastings District Youth Council. For several years, India has been a volunteer at the HB Museum and Art Gallery as the Taonga Department curator's assistant alongside holding a youth position on Te Roopu, its Maori advisory board. India is also a member of ReGeneration, an independent network working to enact positive change in communities, workplaces, families, schools and the natural environment. This year, she was chosen as a HB delegate to the Sir Peter Blake Trust Youth Enviro Leaders forum. India was a young leader on the Year 9 rites of passage camp, which acknowledges the transition from girlhood to womanhood, and helps build self-confidence as well as providing challenges through outdoor activities.

Ashlin Urieti, Taikura Rudolf Steiner

Ashlin has achieved academically with distinction while maintaining responsibilities within the school and community. He has been involved in running the 40 Hour Famine fund-raising events for World Vision, participated in Duke of Edinburgh/Young NZers challenge, is a student representative on the board of trustees, chairman of the student council, a Hastings District youth representative, on the HB Environment Youth Council, founder of HB Regional Youth Council, along with undertaking major roles in drama club plays. Ashlin spent five months on exchange to Austria broadening cultural perspectives, took part in the Otago University Advanced Science Schools Academy, the ReGeneration environmental hui, organised and co-led the homework club, attended a non-violent communication programme and participated in multiple rites of passage programmes. Ashlin has been a longstanding badminton team captain and has coached younger players.

Hemi Manaena, St John's College

Hemi, who passed NCEA with excellence, has competed in the O'Shea Shield as a debater and a scripture reader, is a member of the St John's senior A debating team and won the HB section of the Race Unity Speech Awards this year. An accomplished musician, Hemi has played the piano in assemblies, at masses, for school shows and for a range of jazz bands locally and regionally. He has represented the college on the Hastings District Youth Council for several years and has had extensive experience as a first aider with St John, receiving the Grand Prior's Award from the Governor-General in 2011.

Jerome Groot, St John's College

Jerome, who has completed NCEA, is capable academically, an excellent sportsman and a natural leader. He is a college prefect, house captain, 1st XI football captain and 1st XI cricket captain. In football, Jerome has played in the Central League competition for the Maycenvale club and was a contracted player with HB United in the ASB Premiership in the 20011/12 season. In cricket, he is the top batsman in the school's 1st XI, has been the Havelock North Cricket Club Junior Batsman of the Year for the past three years and has been in the Central Districts U18 training squad. Jerome is always willing to assist younger sportsmen.

Nicole Lansdown, Iona College

Nicole is a member of the Iona Sports Academy and plays 1st XI hockey. But her sporting passion and ability is best expressed in the equestrian world where she competes successfully and consistently against adults at provincial and national level. In 2011, Nicole was third in the open novice section at the national three-day event despite being the youngest rider by 10 years. She is part of the NZ junior squad being prepared for a transtasman series in the future. This year, she got second in the U18 NZ point series and seventh in the U21 young rider series. Nicole is a recipient of the NZ Pony Club High Achievers Award and her goal is to compete at the Olympics.

Tobias Kuhlman, Havelock North High School

Tobias' NCEA results were endorsed with excellence and, as a Year 12, he achieved level 3 endorsed with merit. Tobias is studying mathematics with calculus, statistics and modelling, chemistry, physics and technology (metal), and wants scholarship passes in all of them. Tobias has been identified by Canterbury University as one of the country's most promising chemistry students and took part in the Chemistry Olympiad training camp in Auckland. Tobias is a member of the HNHS academic committee, which voluntarily offers tutoring to other students. He is keen on sport and is in the 1st XV rugby team. He is captain of the boys' chess team and recently came second in the open division of the HB Secondary Schools chess tournament. Tobias intends to study mechanical engineering and mechatronics at university.

Liam Murphy, Lindisfarne College

Liam, who has NCEA with merit, achieved straight excellence in his physical education course. This year, he will sit scholarship classical studies and physical education. An outstanding sportsman, he came third in the 2011 NZ Secondary Schools event, holds the college record in senior javelin and is the East Coast NI javelin champion for the fourth year. In rugby, Liam played for the Napier Ross Shield in 2007 and has been in the college's 1st XV for the past three years. He was a member of the HB U16 rugby side in 2009/10, the HB developmental rugby squad in 2011 and attended the HB Rugby U18 camp. A competent swimmer, Liam was a member of the team that won the East Coast NI Championship schools event. Liam holds Grade 4 violin in Trinity School of Music, having played for seven years. He is a college prefect, head of house and a boarding house prefect. He leads by example at all times with a positive, mature and determined attitude and a commitment to performing at the highest level in all that he does.