Waipa Youth Awards

Waipa Youth Awards - Recent News - Te Awamutu College

Waipa Youth Awards

Recipients of the annual Waipa Youth Awards have been announced, once again emphasising the excellent standards across Waipa in sports, the arts, academics, community service and leadership.

The recipients of the Youth Awards, usually announced at a live event, were announced in a video this year for the second time in the awards' 20-year history due to uncertainties surrounding Covid-19.

Each award category is separated into three endorsements - Achieved, Merit and Excellence - by the individual category judges. The following students have been recognised as displaying excellence in their respective categories: Cambridge High School's Matteo Di Maio was the recipient of the Excellence award for the Academic category (sponsored by the University of Waikato and judged by Karsten Zegwaard and Chris Eames). Also from Cambridge High, for her contributions to the community, Elena Huggins was awarded the Excellence endorsement for the Community Service award (sponsored by Te Awamutu Rotary, judged by Richard Hurrell and Judy Bannon). The Excellence Leadership award (sponsored by Cambridge Rotary and Construction Advantage Ltd, judged by Alan Livingston and Barbara Kuriger MP) was awarded to Matthew Yarndley of Te Awamutu College. Devon Briggs of Cambridge High will receive the Excellence endorsement of the Sports award (sponsored by Cambridge Lions and Storey Sport, judged by Mahe Drysdale, Alison Shanks and Sarah Cowley). No Excellence endorsement was awarded for the Arts and Culture category. However, four students received the Merit endorsement - Emily Carr (Cambridge High School), Jack Dams (St Peter's), Tomas Metz (Cambridge High School) and Felix Rowe (St Peter's). The Multi-Achiever award (sponsored by Kaz Design, Webb and Wood Accountants, Designer Tanks, BSP Advisory Group and Construction Advantage Ltd and judged by Alan Livingston and MP Barbara Kuriger), for outstanding success in more than one of the previous categories was awarded to Meghana Gaddam of St Peter's.

All award recipients receive a monetary prize generously donated by sponsors in the community. Mayor Susan O'Regan said it was inspiring to see Waipa's rangatahi continue to strive for excellence through what has been a disruptive couple of years. "Our youth have shown just how resilient they are in times of continuous change and should be immensely proud of all they have achieved. The high calibre of students nominated for this year's Youth Awards reinforces the knowledge that our district's future is in good hands."