Winner of Youth Spirit Award Announced

Injy Johnstone from Kaikorai Valley College has been named as the winner of the TrustPower Dunedin Youth Community Award.

The Award will be presented at the TrustPower Dunedin Community Awards held tonight on Monday 6 May at Toitu Settlers Museum. 

Run in conjunction with the TrustPower Dunedin Community Awards, the TrustPower Youth Community Award recognises secondary school students’ service to the school and the community.  The Award is jointly run by TrustPower and the Dunedin City Council.

Local high schools were asked to recommend one student to be considered for the Award. The runner-up for this Award is Tarn Neuman from Otago Girls’ High School and the finalists are Leah Knauf from Queens High School; William Pelet from Otago Boys High School; Cameron Burrow from John McGlashan College; Warren van Staden from Kings High School; Kate McDonald from St Hildas Collegiate School; Damon Lillis from Logan Park High School and Annabelle Weston from Kavanagh College.

To be considered for the TrustPower Youth Community Spirit Award students had to have given service to school or community projects, treated others with care and respect and been a good ambassador for the school and the Dunedin region.

TrustPower Community Relations Representative Jess Somerville says Injy is an outstanding role model at her school, who has made huge contributions academically, in the sporting and cultural arena and she has an extensive list of community involvements. 

“At her school Injy is a great advocate for student voice and as well as being a member of the Student Council she has been elected as the student representative for the past two years for the Board of Trustees.

“During her time at Kaikorai Valley College Injy has been involved in a number of sporting teams, cultural events, action groups and leadership positions. As well as taking the lead role in the school production Injy has participated in the Shakespeare Festival, Talent Quest and Wearable Arts. She also plays, coaches and referees Soccer and Futsal.

“Out in the community Injy is the secretary for the New Zealand Environmental Education Association, a member of the Otago Regeneration Society and also for Otago Enviroschools. Injy’s commitment to infect positive change on New Zealand Environmental issues also saw her selected to travel to Rio de Janeiro last year for the ‘Rio + 20’ Environmental Conference.

Injy is clearly an impressive young lady with an exciting future ahead” says Miss Somerville.

For winning the Award Injy will receive a framed certificate and $500 prize money, with $250 being given to a community group or organisation of her choice. We will find this organisation out at the TrustPower Dunedin Community Awards. 

The TrustPower Youth Community Spirit Award will be presented at the TrustPower Dunedin Community Awards, being held tonight on Monday 6 May.

ENDS

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