Wgtn Airport awards school student volunteers

Tuesday, 2 October 2007, 9:55 am
Press Release: Wellington Airport Limited

1 October 2007

Wellington Airport awards school student volunteers

Wellington Airport awarded the efforts of five outstanding senior students from each of the Airport’s local Eastern Suburbs colleges for their contribution to school and community at the inaugural Wild at Heart Spirit Awards.

The Spirit Awards were presented in conjunction with the Wellington Airport Community Awards at a ceremony hosted at Wellington Airport. The winners of tonight’s Award each received a $1500 contribution towards their post school studies.

Like the Community Awards, the Spirit Awards recognise and celebrate people who believe in the importance of community - people who are self-motivated and selfless.

The Spirit Awardees have all demonstrated a broad contribution to their college during their time there as a student. They have developed good relationships, treating others with respect and concern, gone out of their way to give service to their school or community projects, and are good ambassadors for their college.

Infratil Managing Director and Wellington Airport Director, Lloyd Morrison, congratulated the following Spirit Award winners:

1. Rongotai College: Liam McCullan
2. Scots College: Matthew Rogers
3. St Catherine’s College: Ashleigh Twist
4. St Patrick’s College: Thomas English
5. Wellington East Girls’ College: Fiona Love

“Student achievement outside of school often goes unrecognised - a very good reason for Wellington Airport to recognise these students who, in their secondary school years, have contributed to their school and local community”, said Lloyd Morrison.

“These are young people who are taking on the rigours of studying in their final years of school, as well as all of their other extra-curricula interests, but still find time to help in their schools and local community.”

2007 WILD AT HEART SPIRIT AWARD WINNERS

SCHOOL

WINNER

Rongotai College
Liam McCullan

Over the past 5 years Liam has been an integral part of Rongotai College. He has thrown himself with passion and commitment into the extra curricular life of the school; in particular leading the school’s Stage Challenge team, as a prefect and as student representative on the Board of Trustees.

Liam never shies away from hard work or a challenge and is prepared to go the extra mile to help others, and ensure a job is done well.

This attitude has also seen Liam involved in charity work for a variety of community organisations including Lifeflight Trust, Daffodil Day and Poppy Day collections, and the Toys for Tonga programme.

Liam is set on majoring in Human Resource Management in a Commerce Degree at Victoria University.
Scots College

Matthew Rogers Throughout his school career, Matthew has willingly given time to school and community groups in sharing his expertise in audio visual and computing technology.

He has been as a leading member of “the I Team”, in which he shares knowledge in training younger students in IT. He also gives technical support and assistance to community groups which utilise school facilities for productions.
As a College Prefect, Matthew has been proactive in developing ways to improve team spirit among the student body, and he is often sought out by students for advice.

He has contributed to the community through fundraising activities, in particular collecting for the Malaghan Institute, Cancer Society and the Wellington City Mission.

Matthew will be studying at Victoria University for a Bachelor of Commerce and Administration.

St Catherine’s College
Ashleigh Twist

Ashleigh’s willingness to help other youth is evident through her involvement in school and community. She participates in the school buddy system, leads the barbershop chorus and helps with maths tutoring. She is also an active member of her church youth group.

Ashleigh’s passion to make a difference saw her introduce to her school “Invisible Children”, a documentary about the impact of civil war on Northern Ugandan communities. Her initiative led the school to adopt the cause as this year’s fundraising focus.

After completing her studies, Ashleigh wishes to extend her strong commitment to helping others by working as a missionary.

Ashleigh will be undertaking Discipleship training in Madrid with an outreach to Africa.

St Patrick’s College

Thomas English Thomas has successfully balanced his academic studies, cultural, and sporting activities to allow him to give generously of his time and skills to help others, in both his school and local community.

At school, he is a role model as Head Prefect, and also a Year 9 Peer Leader. As part of the St Vincent de Paul Society youth group, Vinnies, he has actively taken part in fundraising for many charitable projects, and also volunteers at the Suzanne Albert Compassion Centre Soup Kitchen.

This year he initiated a World Vision Sponsorship programme for the school to sponsor 7 children - a lasting legacy of Thomas’s contribution.

Thomas is planning to study Health Sciences at Otago University.
Wellington East Girls’ College

Fiona Love

Fiona has contributed broadly to her school over the past five years. She is involved in a variety of sporting and cultural activities, including Youth United Nations at a national level, and has taken on organisational roles in social and fundraising endeavours.

Fiona is quick to volunteer and help others, always committing a high level of investment to tasks she undertakes. This is evident in her roles as Prefect, and Peer Tutor to ESOL and advanced computing students.

Outside school, she contributes to her community through her involvement in her church Youth group, and volunteering for junior dancing productions at Fern Dance Works.

Fiona will be doing a Bachelor of Arts and a Bachelor of Science at Victoria University.

ENDS

© Scoop Media

Wellington Airport

Wild at Heart

Wellington Airport provides a world class airport for visitors, the Wellington region and New Zealand. It's international terminal, The Rock, is ranked 4th best in the World. Being very close to the CBD saves 5.4 million travellers plenty of time and makes Wellington a more attractive place to visit. The Airport won the Wellington Gold Awards for Safety and is a major supporter of local events, attractions and community groups.

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