A range of academic, cultural and service awards were granted at Mount Aspiring College’s (MAC) annual senior prize giving ceremony on Wednesday evening (November 2).

The four premier awards were awarded to Layton Osnabrugge (dux), Lucy Laws (proxime accessit), Ben Silipo (best all round male student) and Daisy Orbell (best all round female student).

Layton, who has attained academic excellence of the highest order in biology, chemistry, and mathematics with calculus and physics, has applied to the International Christian University in Japan.

He hopes to apply for a cadetship with Japanese Airlines or All Nippon Airways to get his commercial pilot licence after completing his degree.

Lucy has attained academic excellence in English, enterprise, history and psychology. After a gap year in 2023 Lucy plans to study psychology, English and sociology at Auckland University.

Daisy plans to study law and PPE (politics, philosophy, and economics) at the University of Otago in 2023 and Ben plans to study engineering, either in Auckland or Australia.

The prizegiving ceremony also celebrated many students’ personal achievements in winning national awards. 

They were: Saffron Millar (football), Benjamin Silipo (swimming), Caoimhe Heath (gymnastics), Aiden Fitzpatrick, Ethan McLean (skiing), Daniel Wright, Ella Briscall (cross country skiing), and Lulu Pettit (cross country skiing and biathlon).

A number of students represented New Zealand in sport and other endeavours this year. 

They were: Nat Warburton (rock climbing), Emily Hayes (orienteering), Carter Guichard (road cycling), Lucia Georgalli, Cam Melville Ives (snowboarding), Fin Melville Ives, and Gustav Legnavsky (skiing).

The three premiere sports awards went to: Olivia Jones (fairplay), Isla Henderson (girls sports), and Gustav Legnavsky (boys sports) 

Cultural awards went to Kate Bennie (te ūkaipō) Melia Brett (mana pounamu) and Kimiya Byrne (te korowai o te mātauranga); and arts award recipients were Daisy Orbell and Oscar Goodwin (music), Hana Dean (visual art), Eve Bretherton (drama) and Matilda Metcalfe (wholehearted contribution to the arts).

Nine students received special academic awards. 

They were: Felix Blanchard (historical records), Anton Jones, Lucas Buick (science and technology scholarships), Layton Osnabrugge (mathematics scholarship), Kalan Nichol (workshop workmanship), Hana Dean (senior language), Zoe Raffills (outdoor pursuits scholarship), Lucy Laws (speech), and Hayley Ambrose (creative writing).

Year 11-13 students also received individual academic awards for highest achievement and high achievement in the year levels, as well as scholarships and service awards. 

PHOTO: MAC