Te Kura o Tititea Mt Aspiring College (MAC) celebrated the commitment and achievement of its students in the arts, service and te ao Māori earlier this week.

MAC principal Nicola Jacobsen said the awards event, which took place on Thursday (October 19), reflected the breadth of opportunities available to students at the college.

“In addition to our strong focus on academic excellence, we encourage our students to make the most of all aspects of college life so they can grow and be proud of who they are,” she said.

Winners of MAC Arts Service Blue Awards.

“The arts offer our students an invaluable window into the human experience, allowing them to develop the skills they need to tell their own stories and explore different perceptions of the world and their place in it through music, drama, dance and visual art.”

Nicola said developing a deeper understanding of te ao Māori was one of MAC’s strategic priorities “so we are thrilled to see students recognised for nurturing te ao Māori at our school”.

Arts Service Blues were awarded to students who have made a significant contribution to, or shown leadership in, the arts for two or more years; Arts Achievement Blues were awarded to students who have achieved significant success in the arts; and Arts Commendation Certificates were awarded to students who have shown commitment, leadership or achievement within the arts during the year.

Winners of MAC Te Ao Māori Service Blue Awards.

Students awarded Service Blues were recognised for their high standard of achievement and commitment to voluntary service at the school or in the local community and Te Ao Māori Blues were awarded to students for their contribution to te ao Māori and leadership and achievement in this area.

Selected students were awarded MAC Values Awards in recognition of the way their behaviour reflects school values, and special awards were given to students who have demonstrated outstanding commitment and achievement in the arts and culture.

Awards and recipients

Arts Commendation Certificate: Kasey Brooks, Max Byrne, Alice Chaly, Luke Gendall, Alexis-Sofia Harvey-Wills, Emma Head, Suki Leigh, Robbie McRae, Sophie Walsh.

Arts Service Blue: Amy Benson, Miki Bercelli, Jemma Brake, Eve Bretherton, Cholula Brown, Max Byrne, Sam Caumette, Tayla Doran, Paige Gawn, Estelle Gellatly, Oscar Goodwin, Tane Haines, Alexis-Sofia Harvey-Wills, Brooke Hutchison, Ruby McLachlan, Matilda Metcalfe, Ella Miles, Otis Murphy, Lena Pollard, Portia Randall, Isabella Soper, Grace Thomas, Aria Thor-Poet, Vanessa Vickers, Laura Watkins, James Watson, Clarke West, Aria Winter, India Yule.

Arts Achievements Blue: Amy Benson, Hunter Cranfield, Tayla Doran, Oscar Goodwin, Isabel Martin, Matilda Metcalfe, Otis Murphy, Isabella Soper, Grace Thomas, Clarke West, Priya White.

Service Blue: Amy Benson, Jemma Brake, Paige Gawn, Ava Hay, Lewis Inder, Sienna Jones, Emma Lamb, Milly Lewis, Freja Malmo, Jessie McNeil, Noah Moody, Tasmin Murphy, Hazel Murray, Ben Pell, Lulu Pettit, Nico Pettit, Lena Pollard, Lucy Radford, Elise Tomkins, Laura Watkins, James Watson, Lily Wilson, Molly Wilson, Jessie Winter, India Yule.

Te ao Māori commendation certificate: Alice Chaly, Laila Telfer, Oscar Waddington, Zoe Waddington, Arlo Waddington; Te ao Māori achievement blue: Anataia White, Melia Brett, Ryan Enoka; Te ao Māori service blue: Anataia White, Sam Caumette, Melia Brett, Ryan Enoka and Hazel Murray.

MAC values awards: Manaakitanga Awards Arts, Clarke West; Te Ao Māori- Anataia White; Service - Emma Lamb. Whanaungatanga Awards: Arts - Oscar Goodwin; Te Ao Māori - Hazel Murray; Service - Laura Watkins. Aroha Awards: Arts - Laura Watkins; Te Ao Māori - Lucy Maibach; Service - Sienna Jones. Ihi Awards: Arts - Paige Gawn; Te Ao Māori - Oscar Waddington; Service - Tasmin Murphy.

Special awards: Junior Music Award 7 & 8 - Merryn Foster; Junior Music Award 9 & 10 - Ruby Smith; Senior Music Tech Award - Oscar Goodwin; Senior Music Award - Clarke West; Thomson Award for Dance - Ruby McLachlan and Tayla Doran; Thomson Wright Award for Direction and Backstage - Robbie McRae; Kings Performing Arts Award - Laura Watkins;

Heskell Award for Excellence in Drama - Zoe Raffills; Senior Languages Award - Lulu Pettit; Tecorians Award for Senior Speech - Libby Fraser; Aspiring Writers Award - Amy Benson; Senior Debating Award - Jackson Duguid.

PHOTOS: MAC