Geraldine Atichio, a 2019 Rotorua Young Achiever formerly from Rotorua Girls' High School. Photo / Kelly Makiha
Geraldine Atichio, a 2019 Rotorua Young Achiever formerly from Rotorua Girls' High School. Photo / Kelly Makiha
Six years ago, Geraldine Atichio clasped her Rotorua Young Achievers’ certificate in her hands with a dream of a career in medicine.
In four weeks’ time, she will officially graduate from the University of Auckland’s medical school as a doctor.
She achieved her dream because she backed herself, no matterwhere she had come from.
The inspiring former Rotorua Girls’ High School deputy head girl was the guest speaker at the Rotorua Young Achievers awards last night at the Sir Howard Morrison Centre.
The awards, primarily sponsored by Rotorua Trust, celebrated 48 young adults who were recognised for their remarkable achievements in areas such as academics, sport, culture, leadership, performing arts, and school and community service.
Guest speaker Geraldine Atichio wows the crowd at the Rotorua Young Achievers awards presentation at the Sir Howard Morrison Centre. Photo / Kelly Makiha
Atichio’s message to the award recipients was to work hard and be determined.
She told the story of how a professor at her university told the students in their first year that out of 2000 students, only 200 of them would make it.
“I had about a 10% chance of achieving my dream. For a student from little old Rotorua, that hit hard. I could have let it scare me, but instead I used it as my motivation. I told myself someone has to be in that 10%, why can’t it be us?”
Rotorua Young Achievers for 2025 receive their awards. Photo / Kelly Makiha
The 2019 Young Achiever recipient said being bold enough to achieve your dreams when others tried to scare you off was when dreams became reality.
“We might come from a place that’s small, but in Rotorua, we don’t dream small.”
She said it took a village to achieve a dream.
“I wouldn’t be standing here today without the people who shaped mine. My whānau, my friends and my old kura, Rotorua Girls’ High School, that encouraged all my dreams, no matter how crazy.”
She said great achievers had been great dreamers, and she encouraged everyone to “back yourself”.
“The next chapter of this story is incredibly exciting, and it’s yours to write.”
Between the speeches and presentations hosted by Paul Hickey from The Hits - Rotorua 97.5FM, the invited guests - including proud principals, parents and sponsors - were entertained by saxophonist Lucy Tokelove from John Paul College and Te Kura Kaupapa O Ruamata student Manawapohatu McGarvey-Borrell and his band, R67.
Rotorua Young Achiever Manawapohatu McGarvey-Borrell from Te Kura Kaupapa O Ruamata receives his award after performing with his band R67. Photo / Kelly Makiha
The band played a song called Go Home which resonated with the crowd and drove home a message earlier delivered by Rotorua Mayor Tania Tapsell.
Tapsell encouraged the award recipients to experience the world and achieve their dreams, but asked them to one day come home to Rotorua.
“As you take on new challenges, may you always know that those people who supported you, this place you call home, we will always be here for you.
“We look forward to seeing you when you return, and we hope that one day you will see your family grow up in this great place called home, too.”
Tapsell thanked them for the contribution they had already made to their schools and to make Rotorua a better place.
The Young Achievers
This year marks 35 years since the late Owen Howard started the Rotorua Young Achievers awards.
The awards came about when Howard, a local photographer, had the vision to celebrate the achievements of youths.
Local photographer Andrew Warner has taken over Howard’s legacy, and each year Warner creates high-quality photographs of award recipients celebrating their strengths. He also produced a video of the students, which was played at last night’s celebration.
Warner’s portraits can be viewed at the Rotorua Young Achievers’ exhibition on display at Pak’nSave until January.
Rotorua Young Achievers for 2025 receive their awards. Photo / Kelly Makiha
Rotorua Young Achievers 2025
Motiana Tuitea-Tuck, Rotorua Girls’ High School, for leadership, culture and service to school community.
Rewa Apanui, Rotorua Girls’ High School, for leadership, academics, culture and service to school community
Maya Blackman, Western Heights High School, for leadership, academics, culture, performing arts, school and community service.
Imogen Blundell, John Paul College, for community and school involvement, academics and sport.
Kelsey Coker, John Paul College, for academics, community and school involvement and leadership.
Poppy Croucher, Rotorua Lakes High School, for academics, leadership and sport.
Jess Day, Western Heights High School, for leadership, academics, performing arts, school and community service.
Waahangateranginui Downes, Rotorua Boys’ High School, for leadership, academic excellence and excellence in performing arts.
Maia Drabble, Western Heights High School, for sport, school and community service.
Sarah-Marie Dupavillon, Rotorua Girls’ High School, for leadership, arts, and service to school community.
Hunter Edwards, John Paul College, for sport and culture.
Pelenatete Emani, Western Heights High School, for culture, performing arts, school and community service.
Finley English, Western Heights High School, for leadership, academics, sport, culture, school and community service.
Genevieve Farrell, John Paul College, for leadership, community and school involvement.
Logan Gaskill, Western Heights High School, for leadership, academics, sport, performing arts, school and community service.
Florence Grace, Rotorua Girls’ High School, for leadership, academics, culture, sport, and service to school community.
Tyson Hansen, Rotorua Boys’ High School, for leadership, excellence in sport and excellence in performing arts.
Kate Hastings, John Paul College, for community and school involvement, academics and sport.
Cruix Te Iharaira Joseph Haumaha, John Paul College, for leadership, culture, community and school involvement.
Liam Heighway, Rotorua Lakes High School, for academics and leadership.
Lachlan Hoggard, Rotorua Lakes High School, for leadership, sport and academics.
Jake Hutchings, Rotorua Boys’ High School, for leadership and excellence in sport.
Toby James, Rotorua Boys’ High School, for excellence in performing arts.
Bhavika Keshav, Western Heights High School, for leadership, academics, culture, school and community service.
Hannah Kiernan, Rotorua Lakes High School, for leadership, sport, academics and community.
Braythyn Lemon, Rotorua Boys’ High School, for excellence in sport.
Siwan Lloyd-Jones, Rotorua Lakes High School, for academics, leadership, community and environmental.
Canala-Ze Lord, Te Kura Kaupapa Māori o Hurungaterangi, for arts and kapa haka.
Desmond Mafileo, Rotorua Boys’ High School, for leadership and excellence in performing arts.
Tiaria Maniapoto, Te Kura O Te Koutu, for leadership, kapa haka and culture.
Manawapohatu McGarvey-Borrell, Te Kura Kaupapa O Ruamata, for academics, sporting, culture and school involvement.
Matiu Mear, Rotorua Boys’ High School, for leadership, academic excellence and excellence in performing arts.
Tokoaitua Owen, Rotoura Boys’ High School, for leadership and excellence in sport.
Zoe Parker, Rotorua Girls’ High School for leadership, academics and service to school community.
Gul Patel, Western Heights High School, for leadership, academics, sport, culture, school and community service.
Sampreeti Raikar, Western Heights High School, for leadership, academics, culture, school and community service, and performing arts.
Dean Richardson, Rotorua Boys’ High School, for leadership and academic excellence.
Purity Rimaha, Rotorua Girls’ High School, for leadership, academics, arts, and service to school community.
Harrison Roberts-Brake, John Paul College, for culture, academics, sports, leadership, community and school involvement.
Puhi Ropitini, Western Heights High School, for leadership, academics, performing arts, school and community service.
Harry Tamblyn, Rotorua Boys’ High School, for academic excellence and excellence in performing arts.
Brooklyn Taylor, Murupara Area School, for academics and leadership.
Siniva Teague, Rotorua Girls’ High School, for leadership, academics, sport and service to school community.
Terry Teepa, Rotorua Lakes High School, for culture.
Lucy Tokelove, John Paul College, for community and school involvement, culture and academics.
Liliana Wills, Rotorua Girls’ High School for leadership, sports, and service to school community.
Emily Yang, Western Heights High School, for leadership, academics and school and community service.
Hanwei Zhao, John Paul College for academics and culture.
