Young people recognised with awards
choreographed her own routines, gained nomination as Young Performer of the Year at the annual New Zealand Ballet competition.
She planned to use her scholarship for dance classes and equipment and plans to continue dancing and become a qualified dance teacher. Jessika Tohou (community service): Jessika attended Horowhenua College where she a member of the school council, the peer support council and Youth Voice group.
She trained as a peer mentor on the Tu Whitu Te Hopo course this year enabling her to provide peer support and raise mental health awareness.
With her sense of community spirit she volunteered for Pink Ribbon Day and Food Bank collection in her spare time. accommodation and purchase of resources for her Health Science studies next year. meant she attended the Eureka Young Science Leaders’ forum.
Next year Anna has enrolled in Health Science at Otago University and hopes to be a dentist. weightlifting star after winning the NZ secondary schools U15 90kg division and the junior 75kg-plus category at the national competition.
Her goal was represent NZ at the Oceania championship and she will use her scholarship to help with the purchase of training equipment and competition entry fees. Connor Mitchell (sport): Connor won an award after winning three gold medals and a bronze at an Oceania tournament.
He also won silver and bronze at a World Cup event, and a gold in the U18 series.
He was awarded the Best Male Junior Black Belt in NZ.
His aim is to represent NZ at the Taekwondo world champs in Germany next year.