30 October 2009
Wellington Airport awards students for community spirit
Wellington Airport awarded the Wild at Heart Spirit Award to 5 outstanding students from neighbouring colleges for their contribution to school and community over the last year. Each student was awarded $1500 towards their tertiary studies.
The award presented by Hon Paula Bennett, Minister of Youth Affairs, went to students in the Eastern Suburbs who attend Scots College, Rongotai College, St Patrick's College, St Catherine's College and Wellington East Girls' College.
The students were honoured at a gala dinner at the Airport coinciding with the Wellington Airport Regional Community Awards which recognises the contribution of volunteer organisations.
“Students are so often awarded for achievement in sport or academia and the commitment to school and community goes unrecognised. Wellington Airport is proud to reward these students for being excellent ambassadors for their schools and the Eastern Suburbs,” said Steven Fitzgerald, CEO.
The winners of the 2009 Wild at Heart Spirit Award are:
Wellington East Girls’ College - Georgia Gray
St Patrick's College – Jadrah Tupa'i
Rongotai College - Kevin Fagalilo
St Catherine's College - Nicole Burt
Scots College - Shaalan Ahamat
Wellington East Girls' College - Georgia Gray
Georgia has used her position as Music Prefect at Wellington East to extend the school spirit through music. She has introduced classical music to the predominately Polynesian “Multichoir” and revitalised the school's assembly music including teaching her fellow students songs for the Muslim Festival Ramadan.
She led a performance group singing “Stand Up To Cancer” in support of the school's Relay for Life team to raise money for cancer.
Georgia will travel to France next year on a student exchange, returning to New Zealand with the aim of studying Classical Performance in Singing.
St Patrick's College – Jadrah Tupa'i
Jadrah is a well respected head prefect who has undertaken leadership roles in music and sport. He is a student leader in the school's award winning choir Con Anima, performing earlier this evening, and a member of the International Medal Winning Vocal FX barbershop chorus.
Jadrah was involved at a high level with the school’s National Championship Basketball Team and the O’Shea Shield winning drama team. He also volunteers for St Vincents de Paul collecting donations, food and supplies for those in need.
Next year Jadrah will attend Victoria University, studying a BA in Psychology and Business Information Systems.
Rongotai College - Kevin Fagalilo
Kevin was nominated three times for this award - by the Entire Year 9 class he peer mentors and two teachers. Along with mentoring he is Deputy Head Boy, Poly Club and Choir leader, and was sound director for the school production. He is a dedicated organiser of many school events including Careers Night.
Kevin undertook a leadership role in the iCAN charity event that saw Rongotai College collect the greatest amount of cans for charity per capita of any school in the region.
He intends to study at Victoria University for a BCA in Commerce, majoring in Accounting and Information Systems.
St Catherine's College - Nicole Burt
During her time at St Catherine’s College, Nicole involvement is diverse. She has given her time to coaching and umpiring junior netball teams and coaches and adjudicating debating tournaments. She also coaches swimming and waterpolo teams. She is involved in On the Edge, a youth leadership network for school leaders, and was awarded the Catherine McAuley Cup for her leadership skills.
Nicole has collected from street appeals including Women's Refuge and St Vinnies, was a leader in the schools iCAN campaign to support the Home of Compassion and Salvation Army.
Next year Nicole will study Law and International Relations and Political Sciences at Victoria University.
Scots College - Shaalan Ahamat
This year Shaalan served as the Head of Charities at Scots College and was leader in the school’s World Vision Fundraising Campaign. He also contributes broadly to the school service in rugby, volleyball, peer tutoring and is a House Captain.
In the community Shaalan fundraised for and participated in a Community Service visit to a school and community in Fiji, and for the past two years he was a Wellington representative of the Adolescent Health and Development Youth Advisory Group.
Shaalan will relocate to Otago next ear to study Health Sciences.
ENDS
Issued by: Wellington International Airport Limited
