Congratulations to the following students who were recognized at the 2017 Honours Assembly.
These students have made exceptional contributions in the areas of performing arts, special Catholic character and sports.
SPECIAL CATHOLIC CHARACTER
Aileen Harwood – Aileen receives her Special Character Honours in recognition of her outstanding contribution to AC Army. In this new and ongoing initiative, a group of students, including Aileen, organised and developed the AC Army Project for providing care packages to Merivale School as well as community contributions to Merivale community centre. Aileen also helped organise and administer the Christmas shoebox appeal. Along with others she has established a fund for community organisations to use to create ‘Family’ for youth and young children. As an active member of Loaves and Fishes for 2 years, Aileen gives up her time each week to help prepare lunches for distribution to primary schools in Tauranga and surrounding areas. She has also worked with the Fullstop project, delivering food around Tauranga.
Laura Saunders – Laura receives her award in Special Character in recognition of her outstanding contribution to the AC Army initiative. She was part of the team which organised and administered the Christmas shoebox appeal. She also helped establish the fund for community organisations to use to create ‘Family’ for youth and young children. As an active member of Loaves and Fishes for 2 years, Laura has prepared lunches for distribution to primary schools in Tauranga and surrounding areas.
Molly Thornton – Molly receives her award for her outstanding contribution to the AC Army initiative. She was also one of the prime organisers of the Christmas shoebox appeal. She was involved in setting up the fund for community organisations to use to create’ Family’ for youth and young children.She has been an active member of Loaves and Fishes for 2 years, and has also worked with the Fullstop project delivering food around Tauranga.
Millie Elliott – Millie is awarded Special Character honours for her outstanding contribution to the AC Army Project, for helping organise and administer the Christmas shoebox appeal, for being part of the group which set up the Family fund for youth and young children. Millie has demonstrated her commitment to making a difference by her involvement in the Loaves and Fishes programme over the past 2 years.
Sam Wylie – Sam is awarded Special Character Honours in recognition of his leading role in setting up the AC Army initiative. He was also involved with organising the Christmas shoebox appeal, and has helped to established the fund for community organisations to use to create ‘Family’ for youth and young children. Sam has also been involved in the Loaves and Fishes program.
Jake Hynds – Jake is awarded Special Character Honours for his involvement in many initiatives aimed at relieving the effects of poverty in Tauranga and the surrounding areas. He has been involved in the AC Army initiative, in Loaves and Fishes, and he was also involved in the Christmas shoebox appeal. We also recognise the contribution that Jake has made as joint leader of the Special Character committee in organising school-based events. Jake has represented Aquinas College at events throughout the diocese, and has volunteered as an Extraordinary minister of Holy Communion.
Loretta Knights – Loretta receives her Special Character Honours in recognition of her work as joint leader of the Special Character committee, and in promoting faith-based activities in the college. She has been and continues to be a leader in the Tahu youth group each Friday night, where she provides invaluable support to the school chaplain, Anna-Marie. She organised our contribution to the Diocesan Sports Night event in Hamilton, and was a delegate to the Set Free event. Loretta has volunteered as Extraordinary minister of Holy Communion.
SPORTS
(Recipients for these Sporting Honours have gained full National Honours. Development teams or Tournament teams no longer satisfy the criteria and students have to have been selected to compete in National teams in order to be eligible for these awards).
Ella Akkerman – Ella gains sporting honours in Beach Volleyball. Ella was awarded Sports Honours last year for her selection in the NZ U’17 Women’s Beach Volleyball team. This year she gained selection to represent NZ at the Youth Commonwealth Games in the Bahamas where she and her partner were Silver Medallists. Congratulations to Ella for this significant achievement.
Shaun Campbell – Shaun gains sporting honours in Golf. Shaun has been building quite an impressive record for himself recently winning the 2017 Classic Builders Cambridge Classic where he competed in the open men’s division. He has also been selected for the BOP Mens Golf team as number 2, and is currently a member of the NZ Junior Development squad. Shaun was selected in the NZ U’18 Golf team which competed at the Australian U’18 Boys Championships in New South Wales in April of this year
Jack Egan – Jack gains sporting honours in Canoe Slalom. Jack was one of three U’18 C1 paddlers selected as part of the NZ team that competed at the World Junior and U’23 Canoe Slalom Championships in Bratislava this year. C1 paddling is racing on your knees, using a T paddle to get down a white water course of slalom gates.
Kiahi Horan – Kiahi gains sporting honours in Water Polo. Kiahi was selected for the NZ Born 2000 Youth Men’s Team which toured to Montenegro in July this year. The team played a number of games on tour in preparation for the 2018 FINA Men’s Youth World Water Polo Championships to be held in Hungary in August next year.
Loretta Knights – Loretta gains sporting honours in Shooting. Loretta has been selected to compete for NZ at the Oceania Shooting Federation Continental Championships being held in Brisbane at the end of October. She is one of 3 women selected in the U’21 Women’s team competing in the Junior 10m Air Pistol event.
Lochlainn O’Connor – Lochlainn gains sporting honours in Swimming. Lochlainn was selected for the NZ Age Group team that competed at the Australian Age Group Swimming Championships held in Brisbane in April this year. He competed in the 16 year-old age group in 5 events qualifying for finals in the 100 & 200m Butterfly.
Josef Schuler – Josef gains sporting honours in Water Polo. Josef was also selected in the NZ Born 2000 Youth Men’s team which travelled to Montenegro in July of this year. As mentioned earlier with Kiahi, this team was selected as part of a 2 year plan to prepare for the World Youth Championships next year. We have a number of students eligible for that team next year.
Max van der Zalm – Max gains sporting honours in Sailing. Max was selected for the NZ Techno 293 team which is a class of Windsurfing. He travelled to the Techno 293 World Championships in October of last year which was held in Italy. Earlier this year Max has been invited to participate in the Pathway to Podium program which is a nationwide development program for emerging athletes and coaches. Currently he is planning to compete for NZ at the ISAF RS:X World Championships being held in China at the end of the year.
ARTS AND CULTURE
Emily Elliott – (Millie) – Millie has shown outstanding leadership, involvement and commitment to the choral programme at Aquinas College. She was a member of the Voci Celesti choir, who in 2016 performed in Sydney as part of the World Projects Australian International Music Festival. She has been a member of the Elle Chante, Angels Awaken, Junior and Service day choirs. As well as the Liturgy Group. Millie has been a cast member for the Aquinas College Musical Productions of the Sound of Music, Oliver and Bugsy Malone. In Bugsy Malone Millie played the lead role of Blousey. In 2016 Millie was the recipient of the Armstrong Cup for her Outstanding Contribution to Drama. Her involvement in Drama has also seen her represent Aquinas College in the Chanel Shield Drama team for two years and as a cast member for the Stage Challenge team. Millie has always been activity involved in music taking part every year in the Performing Arts Night, The Big Sing and Rhapsody in Rotorua. She is a truly outstanding and talented student who is valued for her contribution and service to the Arts at Aquinas College.
Millie Rose Sutherland Burton – Millie has a wide range of experience in Dance, Drama and Speech. She is the 2017 leader of Aquinas College’s Arts and Culture Committee. Millie has been a dancer and chorus member for the Aquinas College Musical Productions of Oliver and Bugsy Malone. For the Aquinas College Stage Challenge productions from 2014 through to 2016. Millie was a lead actor, dancer, choreographer and manager. For the 2015 Stage Challenge in particular, Millie won a student leadership award for her choreography. In 2016 and 2017 Millie made the finals for the Regional Lions Young Speechmaker Contest. She has for the last two years been a member in the Chanel Shield Team competing in the Senior Oratory and Drama sections. Millie has been extensively immersed in Dance for over 13 years. Her highest achievement to date has been to gain a Merit at Advanced 2 Classical Ballet. This is the highest level that one can achieve with the Royal Academy of Dance. Millie is a truly outstanding and talented student who is valued for her contribution and service to the Arts at Aquinas College.
Jake Hynds – Jake Hynds receives his Arts and Culture Honours Award for his dynamic involvement in leading the teaching of the school haka to the school in 2016 and 2017. This was an extraordinary task for a student to undertake and Jake oversaw this process with Marcus Dudley in 2016 and took over the reins alone this year. Jake has been a student of Te Reo Maori for his entire time at Aquinas College and is a strong advocate for reo and tikanga here at the school. Jake was also a senior member of the cast for the school production of Bugsy Malone and was always a strong role model for the younger cast members throughout the rehearsal period and during the season of the show.
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