We're not X-Factor but you still get to vote

The judging panel had a hard time deciding on the finalists in the five categories of the Coromandel Peninsula Youth Awards, but the hardest decision will be for the People's Choice Award where you have to choose between the finalists of each category.

You can read about the finalists and cast your vote by visiting the TCDC website Youth Awards page.

Nominations for the awards closed with 60 nominations highlighting the great work youth do in all of our communities.

"It was extremely rewarding to receive 60 nominations about young people doing wonderful things in our district," says Louise West, Health Promoter for Population Health.

Here are the finalists:

Totally Thames Young Creative Award for Artistic Expression

Darian Lunjevich-West
Tina Haakma
Eden Tuisaula
Emma Hawkins

Rotary Helping Hand Award for Community Service

Kendra Cochrane
Darian Lunjevich-West
Adventure Zone - Thames South School
Aroha in Action
Billy Turner

Smart Environmental Green Thumb Award for Environmental Care

Adventure Zone - Thames South School
Luci Quinn
Hauraki PHO Kia Kaha Award for Perseverance
Kendra Cochrane
Eden Tuisaula

Coromandel Peninsula Youth Collective Legend Award for Leadership

David Hotham
Darian Lunjevich-West
Samantha Connors
Strong, Kind and Respectful (SKAR)

"We would love to have had all nominees as finalists but unfortunately that is not possible. However, we would still like to acknowledge the fantastic contribution they have all made to all of our communities," says our Council's Community Development Officer Marlene Perry.

"Please help us in congradulating all the young people who were nominated, and all those doing great work in their communities who are still unsung heroes," says Ms Perry.

Our Honourable mentions are: Georgia Cook, Pauanui Surf Lifesaving Club, Jaleesa Paul, Shayne Hill, Taylor Moore, Hunter Clarkson, Keegan Dufty, Nicole Thorburn, Harmony Hogart, Ester Colman, Ryder Jones, Hannah Palmer, William Smith, Samantha Taaka, Tairua Surf Lifesavers, Sean Peggs, Peter Rogers, Kyla McLean, Rebecca and Sophie Clarke, Ginell Sim, Shyla-Fay Kivit, Jono Motion, Ivy Cory-Wright, Amy Williams and Cosette O'Connell.

The Thames Youth Forum supported by Coromandel Peninsula Youth Collective, Thames Youth Club, Population Health, Ministry of Youth Development and our Council, is the driving force behind the 2015 Coromandel Peninsula Youth Awards.

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