Hats off to Central Otago students honoured at prizegiving ceremony

Seventy-five current students and recent graduates were recognised for their achievements at Otago Polytechnic’s annual prizegiving ceremony on Friday 20 November at the Cromwell Presbyterian Church.

Of those, 21 students were singled out for special awards and scholarships.

Graduating student Sijo Paul from India won the National Certificate in Horticulture (Level 4) Excellence Award for best overall theory and Sreekumar Chellickal Narayanan won the top practical achievement.

Sports Turf Management graduate Tenille Guttery, from Otautau, was recognised for her outstanding ability and achievements, winning the PGG Wrightsons award and a trip to the Gold Coast for the Australian Turfgrass Conference and Trade Exhibition next year (valued at $2,000).

Gary Smith, the lecturer of New Zealand’s only full-time turf management course, says Tenille is self motivated and he expects her to go far in the industry.

“Tenille is an absolute natural. For the past two years she’s shown excellent practical and leadership skills, and with her initiative and drive I’d expect to see her in a management role in the industry in the not too distant future,” he says. “She’s already secured a full-time greenkeeping position at Arrowtown Golf Club so she’s on her way.”

Otago Polytechnic Regional Manager Jean Tillyshort believes the awards ceremony is a great way of recognising the students’ efforts and finishing their year on a high.

“These outstanding achievements are the result of hard work and commitment by both the students and the lecturers who have guided them. We have a wealth of skilled young people in Central Otago and it bodes well for New Zealand’s future with such a lot of talent going out into the work force.”

ENDS