Winner of Youth Spirit Award Announced

Lydia Barker from Te Awamutu College has been named as the winner of the TrustPower Waipa Youth Community Spirit Award.

The Award will be presented at the TrustPower Waipa District Community Awards held tonight on Monday 20 May at Cambridge Town Hall. 

Run in partnership with the TrustPower Waipa District Community Awards, the TrustPower Youth Community Spirit Award recognises secondary school students’ service to the school and the community.  The Award is jointly run by TrustPower and the Waipa District Council.

Local high schools were asked to recommend one student to be considered for the Award. The finalists for this Award are Danielle Fuller from Cambridge High School and Laura Smith from St Peters 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 Waipa region.

TrustPower Community Relations Representative Teresa Partridge says Lydia is an outstanding young woman who truly knows the value of community spirit.  Throughout her years at Te Awamutu College Lydia has been the chairperson of the service committee, organising mufti days, volunteering on daffodil day and organising Canteen week at school.  She was also a part of the Waipa Youth Council, helping to provide opportunities for youth in the district.

In the community Lydia shines as well. For the last eight years she has been a part of the Pirongia Netball Club helping to fundraise for events, club days and working bees.  She also umpires games and completed her umpire qualifications!  For the last two years Lydia has also been a part of the Rotary Club of Te Awamutu Maunga Cycle Challenge helping out with the bikes n trikes event,” says Mrs Partridge.

The judges commented that Lydia is mature, articulate and very well presented.  She gave full responses to all the questions asked, and was involved in a broad range of volunteering, both in social services inside her school environment, and in assisting in outside sports events and activities.  They said Lydia had a strong focus on her future plans with the aim to use her skills and position to continue to profile and support community groups.

For winning the Award Lydia will receive a framed certificate and $500 prize money, with $250 being given to a community group or organisation of her choice.

ENDS

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