Media release, Monday 03 September 2012

Waiariki Come on Board with New Award for Trustpower Rotorua Youth Community Spirit Award

Waiariki Institute has come on board to support Rotorua youth by adding another Award to the TrustPower Rotorua Youth Community Spirit Award launched earlier this month.

Nominations have now closed and five outstanding nominations were received from local High Schools in the Rotorua region.

Each secondary school in the district was asked to recommend one year 13 student for the Award, with students, teachers and school staff eligible to nominate a student for recommendation.

The recommended students will be judged by a judging panel consisting of Todd Mclay, MP for Rotorua Keith Ikin, Acting Chief Executive for Waiariki Institute, Judy Keaney, retired Rotorua Energy Charitable Trustee and TrustPower Community Relations Manager Graeme Purches. That panel will then decide on the Award recipients.

While deciding upon the winner, the judges will now have the opportunity to recognise another student through the Waiariki Outstanding Project Award.

The winner of the new Waiariki Outstanding Project Award will receive a framed certificate and $500 prize money, with $250 going to the student personally and $250 being given to a community group or organisation of the student’s choice.

Keith Ikin, Acting Chief Executive for Waiariki Institute, says adding another Award to the TrustPower Rotorua Youth Community Spirit Award evening will mean the Youth Spirit Awards can recognise another young person for their outstanding community work.

“These students are an inspiration to not only their peers at school, but also too many of us. By recognising their service to their community we can encourage them and recognise the outstanding work that these young leaders bring to their community,” says Keith.

The following schools are taking part in the Award: Reporoa College, Rotorua Girls’ High School, Rotorua Boys’ High School, John Paul College and Rotorua Lakes High.

To be considered for the TrustPower Youth Community Spirit Award students must have contributed widely as a student to their college/school; developed good relationships, treated others with respect and care; given service to school or community projects; and been a good ambassador for the college/school and the region.

The winner of the TrustPower Youth Community Spirit Award will also receive a framed certificate and $500 prize money, with $250 going to the student personally and $250 being given to a community group or organisation of the student’s choice.

TrustPower Community Relations Representative Teresa Partridge says she is excited about recognising the enormous role young people play in developing a spirit of compassion and selflessness in the community.

The winner of the TrustPower Youth Community Spirit Award and the Waiariki Outstanding Project Award will be named at an Awards ceremony on Monday 10 September at the Blue Baths.

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