The achievements of this year’s Wairarapa College seniors were lauded with song, music, and a haka at the school’s senior prizegiving recently.
Grace O’Hagan was named Dux for 2016 her achievements being celebrated by the entire senior college who performed the Ko Wairarapa haka – a college first for the ceremony.
Grace will be heading to Otago University next year to study social work, and said receiving the award had been a special occasion.
“It was a really big surprise to be honoured by the school,” she said.
“I wasn’t expecting it all.”
Proxime Accessit was Olivia Sinnema who will also be attending Otago University, undertaking a double degree in law and the arts.
It was great to have her hard work recognised by the school, she said.
“It’s a cool way to finish the year – it’s definitely something I’d been working towards.”
Principal Shelley Power said prizegiving was a wonderful opportunity for the college and college community to celebrate the students’ successes.
“It was a very special moment when the senior school performed the haka for the dux for the first time. It was an incredible thing to watch,” she said.
Ms Power said it was great to acknowledge student achievement and the hard work that goes in to reaching those goals by students, staff and parents in all areas of college life.
Year 12 Top Scholar was Stephanie Andrews-Paul and Year 11 Top Scholar was Olivia Gardiner.
Winners of the highest sporting trophies, the Challenge Cup and the Holmwood Cup, were Year 13 athletes Joanna Saba and Gus Wakeling, while Year 11 Mikael Starzynski won the non-school sport award for his achievements in athletics.
The Pottinger Cup was awarded to Puketoi who narrowly won the house competition.
The 2017 leaders were also named with Stephanie Andrews-Paul being Head Girl and Isaac Bracewell Head Boy with deputies Molly O’Hagan and James Robertson.
College House 2017 leaders will be Camryn Scott and Wills Taylor with Tayla Hooper and Aidan Laing as their deputies.
The evening began with a performance from boys’ choir Pogonologists while Armonia Dolce and Cantate wowed the audience with a rendition of Queen’s Somebody to Love.
The orchestra and bands Mojo and Martin and Sons entertained while Chev Fraser played a solo on the piano.
At each year level teachers were asked to identify their students who consistently demonstrated the LEAD qualities of Learn with Purpose, Engage with Pride, Act with Respect and Dare to Succeed.
Students identified in 4-6 subjects were then rewarded with LEAD Bronze, Silver and Gold awards as part of prizegiving.
