School Achievers Recognised

16 December 2010 School Achievers Recognised

Seven secondary school students have been given a helping hand by the Hurunui District Council to pursue further study. Annie Fleming, Jacob Smith, Benjamin Parkinson, Rose Sutherland, Hamish Ainsley, Angus Gibb and Harry Pirie are this year’s recipients of the Hurunui Secondary School Achievers Awards.

It is the eleventh year the awards have been held.

Mayor Winton Dalley, who has been on the selection panel for six of those eleven years, says it has been a privilege to be a part of the process and noted the high calibre of young people applying had made awarding the grants a difficult task.

As he moved into handshaking mode he also noted the importance of that first ‘meet and greet’.

“As a former Board of Trustees Chair I have shaken a lot of hands at a lot of school prizegivings and I can tell you it makes an instant impression.

“That first handshake and greeting speaks volumes about who you are in just a few seconds. And that’s important to remember as you progress through life, especially if you are attending a job interview, be sure to make that first impression all about who you really are, – make it count.”

The students receive grants of between one and two thousand dollars each to help with future studies which include: Bachelor’s of Commerce, Science, Aviation Management, Veterinary Science, and study in Health Sciences.

For further information contact: Lauren McKenzie Communications Advisor Hurunui District Council 03 314 0024

PHOTO: from left to right: Angus Gibb, Rose Sutherland, Harry Pirie, Mayor Winton Dalley, Hamish Ainsley, Benjamin Parkinson, Annie Fleming (Jacob smith absent)

Recipients: Annie Fleming Lives in Culverden and was a boarder at Christchurch Girls High School since year 9. She has excelled academically achieving NCEA Level One with excellence, Level Two with merit and was also awarded the Acland House prize for the highest level one marks. She is involved in many sports including netball, volleyball and basketball, through playing, coaching and umpiring. She is a school prefect and Acland House deputy Head Girl Her commerce department head states Annie is a perceptive, engaging, determined and astute young woman, who displays great management skills and maturity. Annie will commence a Bachelor of Commerce majoring in economics and human resources in 2011.

Jacob Smith (absent from ceremony) Has lived in the Hurunui close to Hawarden all his life and attended Hurunui College from 1998 to 2010 He has achieved at a high level academically and displayed self management and discipline studying independently in his senior secondary years due to attending a smaller rural school. He has enjoyed many extracurricular activities such as wrestling and has twice been the National Wrestling Champion. He has been skiing at Mount Lyford since he was eight years old and also plays rugby. His principal notes he is a popular student of high academic ability, with a keen interest in music, who has performed in a school band at Rock Quest. He has strong leadership potential and was elected student representative on the Board of Trustees. Jacob is passionate about science will begin a Bachelor of Science degree majoring in physics at the University of Canterbury in 2011. His long term career goal is to become a Medical Physicist specialising in the fields of oncology or radiology.

Benjamin Parkinson Lives in Rotherham and has attended Amuri Area School since primary school. He was Head Student in 2010 He is a member of the Rotherham First Response Volunteer Fire Team and has been an active volunteer at the Rotherham Community Swimming Pool. He is a self taught guitarist and a member of the Amuri Area Guitar Club, a passionate rugby player who has displayed great self discipline by studying independently through correspondence while working as a relief milker to help fund his studies. His English teacher states that Benjamin is a good natured hardworking, very talented young man who can turn his capable hands to many different tasks. In 2011 Benjamin will embark on a Bachelor of Aviation Management with a view to obtaining a leadership role in the Aviation Industry. He lists his selection for the 2009 Ohakea Air-Force Challenge, as one of his greatest Achievements. He was one of only a handful of year 12 students selected nationally.

Rose Sutherland Attended Leithfield Primary School and has been a student at Rangiora High School for the past five years. She has many extracurricular interests ranging from reading, cooking, cinema and music and is also a keen sportswoman participating in Basketball, Netball, Rugby and Volleyball. Rose was an International Ambassador at Rangiora High School and a Peer Support Leader and her academic record is outstanding with four ‘excellence ‘levels in Level 3 NCEA this year. Her house head teacher describes Rose as punctual, determined, and enthusiastic, well organised, good humoured and passionate about everything she commits to. Rose is passionate about chemistry and biology and intends to commence study in Health Sciences at Otago University in 2011. She plans to apply for medical school in 2011 as her long term goal is to become a Paediatrician.

Harry Pirie Harry attended Broomfield Primary and completed his secondary education at Rangiora High School. He intends on commencing a Bachelor of Commerce at the University of Canterbury in 2011. Harry has a very strong academic record achieving 104 NCEA level 1 credits at excellence level and at level 2 he achieved NCEA endorsed with excellence. Harry is particularly interested in computer science and has selected this as his major at university. One of Harry’s long term goals is to own his own computer software company, and he is committed to achieving the relevant qualifications to enable him to realise this goal. Harry works on his parents’ vineyard and as a barista at Spoon Cafe. Harry also enjoys swimming, is passionate about music and is a self taught guitarist. Harry’s Dean of Mansfield House notes that Harry is a self motivated learner with great personal drive, initiative and determination. He is a mature young man with strong relationships with both his peers and staff alike and has a good sense of humour.

Hamish Ainsley Has attended Rangiora High School and in 2011 intends to begin a Bachelor of Commerce, majoring in international business while also studying German. He has been studying Japanese for 6 years as well as Italian. With a degree in commerce and an understanding of several languages Hamish would like a career in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade and looking further into the future would like to work for a non-governmental organisation such as World Vision. Hamish has been to ten model United Nations conferences where the delegates research and debate global issues from the perspective of different countries. He was the chairperson for Students Against Driving Drunk (SADD) in 2010 and is very involved with World Vision. His principal states Hamish is a well organised student who always gives his best. He consistently achieves Merit and Excellence and has shown himself to be something of an academic all-rounder.

Angus Gibb Grew up in rural Greta Valley on a sheep and beef farm, was a student at Greta Valley Primary School and has attended Christchurch Boys’ High School since 2006. Angus intends to follow a career as a rural veterinarian and will commence a Bachelor of Veterinary Scenic at Massey University in 2011. During his primary school years Angus played cricket for Scargill making the Hurunui and Canterbury rep teams for four years and captaining these teams. Angus also played representative rugby, tennis and athletics and has competed in the Trapshooting Nationals in Hamilton in 2009 and 2010. Angus was named Deputy Head Boy and was a prefect for Adams House. Looking into the future Angus wishes to travel internationally, own his own farm and become a farm vet working within the Hurunui. Angus’s Agriculture teacher notes Angus was a “Monitor” which is an honour bestowed on just a few elite senior students whom demonstrate the qualities of fine young men in all areas including: sport, academia, leadership integrity and initiative. His teacher noted that Angus was destined for this role from a young age as he has consistently demonstrated these qualities every year he has been at Christchurch Boys High.

ENDS

© Scoop Media