THEY have been good students, sons, daughters, brothers and sisters, friends and neighbours - and their efforts have been rewarded with gift-filled backpacks presented at a special assembly last week.
Nine students at Tawhero School received Neighbourhood Support awards presented by the organisation's national co-ordinator Kelsey Scarr and main Whanganui sponsor Royce Tunbridge of the St John's Club.
Student Kyah Boothby also received an award but was absent for the presentation last Monday.
Teachers, friends and whanau members were celebrating the students' good work along with community supporters - firefighter Andrew Cotter, Constables Tanya Ross and Rob Condor, and Whanganui Neighbourhood Support field officers Trudi Deane and Sumita Dale.
Each backpack contained a sports ball, lunch box, drink bottle and snack bars.