Top talent will go far, says head

A Rotorua Boys High School student is set for another big year after collecting a top scholarship in speech and drama.

Wirihana Te Rangi won the 2012 Geyser Community Foundation Rotorua Boys High School speech and drama scholarship, awarded at last year's prizegiving.

Principal Chris Grinter said the 16-year-old was a fine young man with an enormous talent.

"[Last year] was a very exciting year for Wirihana. He played the principal role of Judas in the Rotorua Boys High School production of Jesus Christ Superstar [and] was a principal in the Raukura Kapa Haka group that came fifth in the national kapa haka finals and which travelled to China to perform before a variety of audiences."

Mr Grinter said as a Year 11 student last year Wirihana received the school's vocalist of the year award after performing in a range of productions.

"Wirihana also sang solo for Dame Malvina Major, performed in the Pasifika Beats competition, performed in the production of Macbeth at Hell's Gate and was a member in Te Hikuwai - a senior kapa haka group that competed for a place in Matatini."

This is the fourth year the $1000 annual scholarship has been awarded to an outstanding student in performing arts at the school.

"Wirihana will really benefit from the opportunities it will provide this year and in 2014, and I am sure he is a talent that we will all get to know very well over the coming years," Mr Grinter said.

Geyser Community Foundation executive officer Annette Burgess said the sought-after scholarship had been made possible by a donor who wished to remain anonymous.