Senior prize giving was on Tuesday night and it was a fabulous celebration of student achievement and success. The night started with the official party welcomed onto the stage and the Principal, Mark Shanahan reflecting on the year, including a special mention of two key staff members retiring this year after significant stints at the College. Mr Nightingale and Mr Scott both taught at the school for over 40 years and will be remembered for having two areas of the school named after them.

The musical performances of the evening were fantastic, including singer Maddison Meredith, who went on to receive the TT Garland Cup for vocal performance. Several students received university and trade scholarships to help them start on their next journey in life after school. These opportunities are kindly provided by our award donors SPECIAL THANKS FOR THE GENEROSITY OF AWARDS DONORS:  University of Auckland, Waitākere College Foundation, University of Otago, AUT, First Foundation,  Hon Phil Twyford MP.

Our guest speaker, alumni Alvin Naiker, shared his journey and impressed us with his honesty, openness, and humour.

The recipient of the staff scholarship this year was Jordan Foulds. Her leadership of the drama department as well as her critical involvement in the school shows is exemplary. Jordan models the "Waitākere Way" in her actions and interactions with students, and we are all grateful for the expertise, generosity and humour that she continues to demonstrate. In receipt of her award on the night, a haka was performed by students she has taught with respect to her contribution and the mana she holds within the school. Congratulations Jordan!

Dux Litterarum, our premier award for the evening, went to Alex Lay, who topped the awards night with 5 top scholar subject endorsements.

The Dux Litterarum: Alex Lay

Alex is an unassuming, polite, and thoughtful student, but behind his reserved demeanour lies a mind his teachers describe as 'Brilliant' - a title earned through his remarkable work ethic and dedication. Known for his conscientious approach, Alex consistently studies ahead, takes on extra coursework, and still finds time to help classmates with challenging concepts, creating a supportive and collaborative learning environment.

Alex has excelled across academic disciplines, winning Top Scholar awards in five subjects. He completed Level 3 Calculus in Year 12, while his primary focus has been in Mathematics and Sciences, he has also demonstrated outstanding ability in English, achieving Excellence in all of his Internal Standards. 

His academic record is exceptional, with a current university rank score of 340 points - projected to exceed 400 after his external exams. With 260 NCEA credits at Excellence level already in the bank, Alex is now preparing for 15 external exams and 7 Scholarship exams, including History and Geography, subjects he has not studied this year.

Outside the classroom, Alex’s leadership and commitment shine as a Prefect; he also captained the school badminton team, played hockey, performed in the school play, and danced with the Filipino group at Polyfest. His ability to balance these roles with his academic schedule reflects his resilience and dedication, which sets him apart.

Next year, Alex plans to pursue a Bachelor of Science in Biomedical Science with the goal of entering Medical School. We congratulate Alex on his achievements, his relentless pursuit of excellence, and the inspiration he brings to our school community.

The Cup for this award was donated by Maurice Borich, who was a member of the Board of Governors.

The Proxime Accessit: Kauri Marley

Kauri is a dedicated and diligent student who exemplifies manawanui, mātauranga, and aroha. Known for her commitment to excellence, Kauri actively seeks feedback to refine her work and deepen her understanding of complex concepts. Her exceptional time management often sees her completing tasks ahead of due dates, setting a high standard for her peers. Beyond her own achievements, Kauri generously shares insights with classmates, fostering a collaborative environment that elevates everyone’s learning.

In the classroom, Kauri is both fluent and insightful in her writing, especially in classical studies, where her elegance and depth of thought shine through. Her subject teachers collectively agree that her positivity and enthusiasm enrich every lesson. Her thoughtful curiosity and unwavering work ethic have made her an absolute joy to teach this year.

She brings brightness and diligence to chemistry, where her sense of fun and active participation make her an invaluable presence.
Every class should have a ‘Kauri’ - someone who is kind, bright, hardworking, and always eager to learn more.
She will be greatly missed next year as she embarks on her Bachelor of Science degree, majoring in Exercise Science and Physiology.

Congratulations, Kauri, on this well-deserved recognition!

TT Garland Cup Award

Maddison is a worthy recipient of the TT Garland Cup Award for  2024. Her passion for musical theatre is exceptional and was evident in her outstanding portrayal in the lead role of Morticia in this year's school production of 'The Addams Family'. Her love of singing and acting cross many genres and she has the potential to develop her talents as a professional performer in the years to come.

Dave Sarich Trophy: Fabian Sarich

The Dave Sarich Award is presented to a Māori student who has shown exceptional resilience and determination in overcoming challenges and achieving success across any level or area in the school. Fabian embodies the values of perseverance and strength that his tupuna, Dave Sarich, stood for, making his receipt of this award both a tribute to his own accomplishments and a celebration of the enduring spirit of his whakapapa.

Jackson Award: Leah McGrath
Leah has given 5 years of service to the College through multiple disciplines. This includes a wide range of sports teams and cultural groups, as well as being exemplary in her academic achievement, school representation in the community and prefect duties. These include breakfast club, MC’ing school events, heading school social media pages, and more.   

She has captained multiple teams including touch and netball throughout her time, as well as contributing to sports in the school by being both a coach and an umpire across a range of sporting codes. In 2021 she was Junior Sportsperson of the year, and to top that, is the Dux Ludorum for 2024. She was a member of the SHINE programme and is part of our Medical Science Academy. She has led throughout the school and community being part of Pūhoro and Ngā Toa O mua. She has been a Peer Mentor for multiple years, led groups at opening evenings and ensured positive relationships as a school ambassador to our local intermediates.  She is always eager to help through different school events from organising to being on stage MC'ing. She has attended multiple workshops extending her knowledge, learning and network to ensure the best for Māori and Pasifika and our community. Overall her friendly smile and bubbly personality have made her an incredible asset to Waitākere College over the past 5 years, and we know these attributes will ensure success for her next journey. 

Georjah Cooper - ISC Senior Trophy 

The winner of the Senior trophy is a student whose determination and hard work set her apart.  Her relentless pursuit of her goals, coupled with an unwavering spirit, exemplifies the true meaning of perseverance.  Through challenges and triumphs, she has grown with dedication and grit, proving anything is possible.  She is representing New Zealand this November on the world stage for Boccia in Bahrain and will represent New Zealand in the 2028 Paralympics.  Congratulations Georjah Cooper on this well-deserved recognition.

Gabriel Taylor - ISC Year 13 Top Scholar

Gabriel is a remarkable senior student whose determination and spirit inspire us all.  Despite facing learning challenges he has achieved NCEA level 2 with outstanding results.  His contributions to both sports and drama showcase his diverse talents and unwavering commitment to his passions. As a role model, he exemplifies resilience and leadership. We celebrate his achievements by awarding him with the ISC Year 13 Top Scholar Award.

Principal's Prize: Jayda Heremaia
Jayda aims for and attains excellence across all her subjects. She responds to feedback and feedforward and is self-motivated and organised across all her subjects. Jayda has all of the personal and study skills to excel in a University environment. She has also given back to the college by coaching junior netball and her team respects her and looks up to her as a role model. This year she won the Student Coach of the Year at sports awards. Throughout her time here she has been a member of our SHINE programme and also the Medical Science Academy. She has gained an Excellence endorsement at both levels 1 and 2 and out of the 62 credits she has gained towards her level 3 - 54 of them are so far Excellence.

A huge congratulations to all award recipients, senior prizegiving night is our chance to celebrate you and your whānau's success. To those not returning next year, all the best for the future. We know you will make a positive difference in your communities. To those who are returning, we hope to see you at the next senior prizegiving.

View the full PHOTO ALBUM HERE