Western Heights High School dux is Murali Krishna Magesan.
The head prefect had been the top Year 11 and 12 student and had been involved in many extracurricular activities such as Envirochallenge and helping lead the Stage Challenge group which came first in the regional competition.
He had been avolunteer for the Rotorua Deepawali Festival since 2008 and a member of the organising committee for Rotorua Holi Festival for three years before organising the festival at school.
Murali was a Rotorua District Youth Councillor in 2010 and was one of five young people recognised in this year's Rotorua District Community Awards in the youth section.
In November he gained his first dan black belt in karate.
