Te Kura o Tititea Mount Aspiring College (MAC) celebrated the academic achievements and service of its junior students at its 2024 Junior Awards ceremonies last week (years 7-8 on Thursday December 12, and years 9-10 on Friday December 13).

MAC principal Nicola Jacobsen said the awards recognised academic, artistic, cultural, sporting and service achievement. 

“We pride ourselves on being a place for all students to grow and be proud of who they are, and we encourage students to make the most of the curriculum opportunities available, and to get involved in all aspects of school life,” she said. 

Highest academic achievers Year 7 (L-R): Tenki Watanabe, P J Foxley, Bill Dobson, Emily Boswell, Sami Reid, Edie Yandall, Tyla Scherger 

Highest academic achievers Year 8 (L-R): Emily Anderson, Logan Davidson, Malcie Cervelli, Sam Seville, Finn Tomes, Travis Clarke (Absent: Jack Sutherland)

“Academically, our results are well above the national average and reflect our focus on the core skills of numeracy and literacy, as well as a range of other subjects designed to prepare our students for their future pathways. 

“We also place a strong emphasis on our values which represent what we stand for as a school community and inform how we treat ourselves, each other and our environment.”

The best all round student awards went to Bill Dobson and Edie Yandall (year 7), Emily Anderson and Alice Chaly (year 8), Emma Head and Deacon Gwilliam Browne (year 9), and Zoe Waddington and Madi Smith (year 10). 

Best all round students Years 9 & 10 (L-R): Emma Head (Y9), Principal Nicola Jacobsen, Madi Smith (Y10), Zoe Waddington (Y10) (Absent: Deacon Gwilliam Browne)

Highest academic achievers Year 9 (L-R): Blanka Lewis, Stella Harper, Oscar Adams, Bella Wright, Lily Brown, Amber Gemmell, Liam Thomas, Sierra Emmitt 

Academic awards for the highest achievers in each class went to: PJ Foxley, Edie Yandall, Bill Dobson, Tyla Scherger, Emily Boswell, Sami Reid, and Tenki Watanabe (year 7); Emily Anderson, Logan Davidson, Travis Clarke, Sam Seville, Finn Tomes, Malcie Cervelli, and Jack Sutherland (year 8); Blanka Lewis, Sierra Emmitt, Liam Thomas, Bella Wright, Lily Brown, Amber Gemmell, Oscar Adams, and Stella Harper (year 9); Phoebe Cervelli, Nieve McRae, Max Evans, Vinnie Vickers, Winifred McAllister Brown, and Charlie Gibson (year 10). 

Other awards included special academic awards, service and premier awards, Tititea trophies (for representing the school values), arts and sport awards, awards for sustainability and culture, and recognition for national and international achievements.

“I am very proud of our junior students and thankful for the support they receive from their families and whānau, and our local community,” Nicola said. 

Highest academic achievers Year 10 (L-R): Vinnie Vickers, Charlie Gibson, Max Evans, Winifred McAllister Brown, Nieve McRae, Phoebe Cervelli

The ceremonies also featured a haka pōwhiri performed by Te Mākahi o Tititea (MAC’s kapa haka group), and performances by the MAC junior band, the MAC Orchestra, Bella Wright, and student band ‘Rip Cord’. 

MAC thanked prize sponsors Wastebusters, Racers Edge, Revology, and Mitre 10 MEGA Wānaka. 

PHOTOS: Supplied