Te Kura o Tititea Mount Aspiring College (MAC) celebrated the service and achievement of its senior students at its 2024 Senior Awards ceremony on Wednesday night (October 30).

Josh Moody was named Dux for academic excellence of the highest order, Amy Benson was named Proxime Accessit for academic excellence, and Tom Sides was named Best All-Round Student. 

Also announced at the event were the college’s new head students for 2025: Ania-Kanu Saklani, Charlie Roy, Ryan Enoka, and Lucy Radford. 

MAC principal Nicola Jacobsen said the awards also recognised student achievement across a range of disciplines. 

“We pride ourselves on being a place for all students to grow and be proud of who they are, and encourage our students to not only make the most of the curriculum opportunities available, but to get involved in all aspects of school life,” she said.

“We want every MAC graduate to leave our school equipped with the skills and self-knowledge they need to contribute to the common good and flourish in a complex world.”

MAC Proxime Accessit for 2024 Amy Benson

She said MAC students’ academic results were “well above” the national average, and the school places strong emphasis on values.

“Observing our senior cohort of 2024, I feel very confident our students will go on to make a positive contribution to our society,” she said.

The ceremony included performances from the college leavers’ band, the classical group, the jazz combo, the college choir, Angelo Dale performing ‘Crazy’ by Gnarls Barkley, an original song ‘Shapes’ performed by Bryne Bloxham, Otis Murphy and Calum Martineau, and a haka pōwhiri performed by Te Mākahi o Tititea (MAC’s kapa haka group). 

2024 Best All Round Student 2024 Tom Sides with MAC Principal Nicola Jacobsen.

See the full list of awards recipients below.

Academic awards

Year 11 

Highest achievement: Noah Moody (mathematics, history, economics and business), Bede Laming (agriculture and woodwork), Francesca Peters (English, geography, event and entertainment technologies), Tommy Cotter (music and level 2 calculus), Denali Emmitt (level 2 statistics), Jack Sides (level 2 physics), Nico Pettit (te reo Māori), Ethan Highsted (science), Georgia Davies (art design), Sophia Menlove (outdoor pursuits), Zoe Gumpatzes (art painting and photography), Phoebe Laker (Spanish), Sam Harper (physical education), Quinn Bailey (computer studies), Millie Slaven (spatial product and design), Laila Wray (food and nutrition), Ashley Beaton (mechanical engineering), Susannah West (drama).

High achievement: Jack Sides (level 2 calculus and economics and business), Mikayla Botting (English, drama and level 2 physics), Rhian Telfer, Madi Lovelock (economics and business), Jack Stanley (mechanical engineering), Ruby Smith, Kaitlyn Tooley, Maja Griffith-Jones (English), Dani Maguire, Sam Harper, Zoe Gumpatzes, Kasey Brooks (mathematics), Denali Emmitt, Alianna Hay, Caroline Smith (science), Nico Pettit (maths and science), Susannah West (science and English), Phoebe Laker (physical education), Tommy Cotter (computer studies), Tasmin Murphy, Dougal McConnell (outdoor pursuits).

Year 12

Highest achievement: Dan McKean (computer studies), Archie Bruce (English), Lachlan Hay (outdoor pursuits and physical education), Grace Thomas (geography and history), Lucy Liddell (chemistry and food and nutrition), Cody Brett (woodwork), Amber Leslie (art painting), Ania-Kanu Saklani (Spanish), Dorothy Anderson (financial capability), Elizabeth Pell (economics), Jessie McNeil (event and entertainment technologies), Max Bretherton (mathematics and statistics), Sam Wilson (music technology), Will Blyth (business), Alex Coupland (psychology), Ayla Howard (photography), Chloe Field (tourism), Monty Brown (gateway), Ryan Enoka (te reo Māori), Sophia Lyon (art design), Chloe Murray (music), Rebecca Blanc (agriculture), Amelia Latchford (biology), George Allwood (mechanical engineering), Mia Waite (drama) Joseph Combe (spatial and product design).

High achievement: Ryan Stembridge (psychology and English), Lucy Liddell (biology and English), Dan McKean (level 3 calculus), Lucy Johns, Axel Macdougall, Douglas Wise (English), Cody Brett (outdoor pursuits), Aria Winter, Cholula Brown (mathematics and statistics), Barnes Metcalfe (physics), Midori Osnabrugge (chemistry).

Year 13

Highest Achievement: Elsa Buckley (chemistry, physics and academic English), Josh Moody (biology and psychology), Ruby Ives (agribusiness and food and nutrition), Will Anderson (gateway and financial capability), Katie Lawrence (statistics and outdoor pursuits), Sophie Walsh (visual art painting), Oisin Corbett (spatial and product design), Alexis-Sofia Harvey-Wills (economics), Daniel Clark (pathways), Anton Jones (computing), Eva Gilbertson (mathematics and statistics), Otis Murphy (music), Suki Leigh (drama), Mackenzie Hall (event and entertainment technologies), Emily Lovelock (English), Aryenyo Emasu (visual art photography), Hamish Tye (visual art design), Ollie Baldwin (business and enterprise), Sacha Swanson (te reo Māori), Tai Treadwell-Burke (calculus), Tom Sides (history), Hunter Tuck (woodwork), Anna Worsley (materials technology), Annie Wells (Spanish), Taylah Jones (tourism), Lulu Pettit (geography).

High achievement: Jodie Wellwood (physics and biology), Hunter Webb, Annie Wells (English), Amber Robinson (geography), Matthew Botting (physical education), Oisin Corbett (psychology), Alexis-Sofia Harvey-Wills (business and enterprise), Ollie Mann, Sean Byres (outdoor pursuits), Emily Schmidt (mathematics and statistics), Elsa Buckley (biology), Tai Treadwell-Burke (chemistry), Tom Sides (academic English).

Special Academic Awards: Tommy Cotter, Dan McKean (science and technology scholarships), Tom Sides (history), Josh Moody (mathematics scholarship), Alyssa Fellingham (outdoor pursuits scholarship), Oscar Leigh, George Allwood, Anna Worsley (effort in workshop), Cody Brett (woodcraft workmanship).

National achievements: Olive Sinclair, Olivia-mae Stanley (dance), Noah Burrows (surf rescue), Sophie Fountain (equestrian), Sylvia Trotter (skiing), Nico Pettit (biathlon), Phoebe Laker, Amaya East, Cody Armstrong, Millie East, Matthew Botting (athletics), Lily Wilson (2025 St John National cadet).

International achievements: Grace Thomas, Hannah Thomas (dance), Heidi Kendrick (equestrian), Angus Smith, Sophie Smith (rodeo), Josh Moody (triathlon), Fin Melville Ives, Luke Harrold (skiing) Carter Guichard (road cycling), Baxter Pollard (biathlon), Cam Melville Ives (snowboarding).

Premier sports awards: Millie East (girls’ sports), Tom Sides (boys’ sports).

Service awards: Ben Pell, Zoe Raffills, Neve Brugman, Tom Sides, Lulu Pettit, Aryenyo Emasu, Nicole Power, Caspar Waddington, Jessica Gould, Vida Osborne, Kyan Prince, Tane Haines, Ben McMurray, Jodie Wellwood, Kate Ritchie, Sophie Walsh, Evie Pendlebury, Josh Moody, Abbey Ragg, Annika Massey, Isabella Noble-Kirkbride, Ella Sarginson, Ruby Ives, Emily McCarthy, Lola Underwood-Vize, Lily Wilson, Alexis-Sofia Harvey-Wills, Lottie Hunt, Will Anderson, Zavier Taylor, Eben McCamish (students in the community with distinction), Alexis-Sofia Harvey-Wills (students in the community – special recognition), Alexis-Sofia Harvey-Wills, Zoe Raffills, Sacha Swanson, Josh Moody (house spirit), Lulu Pettit (special recognition - sustainability), Jodie Wellwood, Katie Lawrence (whole-hearted contribution), Zavier Taylor, Daisy Sanders, Alexis-Sofia Harvey-Wills, Ella Sarginson (special recognition), Ruby Ives (student council recognition).

Duke of Edinburgh International Awards: Dani Maguire, Ruby Ives, Jazz Gillespie, Phoebe Gillespie, Ania-Kanu Saklani, Lili Kaler, Ella Asberg, Zoe Gumpatzes (bronze), Chloe Murray, Katie Lawrence, Lola Ritchie, Olive Sedon, Ruby Smith, Tom Sides, Zavier Taylor (silver), Amy Benson, Lucy Radford, Lulu Pettit, Anton Jones (gold).

Cultural awards: Rāhana Brett (te ūkaipō), Sacha Swanson (te korowai o te mātauranga).

Arts awards: Otis Murphy (wholehearted contribution to the arts).

External scholarships: Abbey Ragg, Alexis-Sofia Harvey-Wills, Amber Robinson, Amy Benson, Annie Wells, Annika Massey, Anton Jones, Aryenyo Emasu, Baxter Pollard, Ben McMurray, Coco Bentley, Daisy Sanders, Ella Sarginson, Elsa Buckley, Eva Gilbertson, Freya Hawker, Hugo Corin, Hugo Sinclair, Hunter Webb, Isabelle van der Wilt, Isla Hearley, Josh Moody, Katie Lawrence, Kyla Go, Lena Pollard, Lewis Turner, Lily Wilson, Lucy Laker, Millie East, Neve Brugman, Nicole Power, Renee Cunningham, Ruby Ives, Sacha Swanson, Sophie Walsh, Tai Treadwell-Burke, Tom Sides, Vida Osborne, Zavier Taylor, Zoe Laws.

Scholarships: Lily Wilson (medical), Otis Murphy (music), Lottie Hunt (law), Ollie Baldwin (art), Beau Gordon, Kyle Millar, Will Anderson, (vocational), Ania-Kanu Saklani, Tyler Gawn (leadership), Zavier Taylor, Kate Watson, Ben McMurray, Tai Treadwell-Burke (leadership and role model), Lily Wilson (polytechnic and medical).

Premier awards: Josh Moody (dux), Amy Benson (proxime accessit), Lucy Radford, Nico Pettit, Ryan Enoka, Toby Mills, Amy Benson, Josh Moody (best all-round students), Tom Sides (best all-round student overall).

PHOTOS: MAC