Te Kura o Tititea Mount Aspiring College (MAC) came together last night (Wednesday October 29) to celebrate the service, achievements, and spirit of its senior students at the 2025 Senior Awards ceremony.

Taking out top honours were Oskar Sharpe, who was named Dux of the college for academic excellence of the highest order; Ryan Stembridge, who was named Proxime Accessit for academic excellence; and Lucy Radford, who was named Best All-Round Student for 2025.

Also announced at the event were the college’s new head students for 2026, who are: Mikayla Botting, Sophia Menlove, Noah Moody and Jack Sides.

Principal Nicola Jacobsen said the evening was a special opportunity to reflect on the journeys of the college’s senior students - and the many ways they have contributed to the school community.

“It’s been such a privilege to witness the learning journey of our senior graduates and the many different academic, co-curricular and vocational pathways they’ve followed,” she said.

(L-R) Best All-Round Student Year 13 Mila Culpitt, Best All-Round Student Overall Lucy Radford and Best All-Round Student Year 13 Ryan Enoka.

“The diverse pathways we offer provide every student with an opportunity to explore their interests, pursue their academic goals, and grow into well-rounded individuals.”

“We pride ourselves on being a place for all students to grow and be proud of who they are, and our graduating seniors of 2025 can certainly be very proud of everything they’ve achieved.

She thanked families, whānau, staff and the local community for their support of the students, as well as those who sponsored awards and scholarships.

The ceremony included performances from the college leavers’ band, the MAC orchestra, the jazz combo, the college choir, an original song performed by band ‘Superficial’, and a haka pōwhiri performed by Te Mākahi o Tititea (MAC’s kapa haka group).

A wide range of awards recognising excellence across academics, arts, culture, sport and more were also presented during the evening.

See the full list of awards recipients below.

Academic awards

Year 11

Academic Honour Roll: Milo Adams, Chanel Castillejos, Emily Hunt, Hailey Beacham, Zoe Waddington, Cameron Clarke, Phoebe Cervelli, Ben Soper, Hannah Thomas, Lily Garrett, Amos Wells.

Highest achievement: Phoebe Cervelli (history, art painting and level 2 physics and level 2 calculus), Milo Adams (English, woodwork, spatial and product design and level 2 mechanical engineering), Tim Heiler (geography), Lily Garrett (economics and business and Spanish), Vinnie Vickers (drama), Jayden Robertson (music), Thomas Jurczyluk (physical education), Zoe Waddington (te reo Māori), CameronClarke (science), Scott Milne (outdoor pursuits), Nieve McRae (food and nutrition), Tyson McGahan (agriculture), Sam Irvine (mechanical engineering), Amos Wells (computer studies), Winifred McAllister Brown (art design).

High achievement: Olivia Coad (level 2 physics and level 2 calculus), Phoebe Cervelli (physical education and English), Charlie Gibson (outdoor pursuits), Michael McConnell (mechanical engineering), Milo Adams, Tim Heiler, Amos Wells (mathematics and science), Taylor Jennings (woodwork), Emily Hunt (science), Hailey Beacham (mathematics), Cameron Clarke (economics and business and mathematics), Lottie King, Sam Irvine, Sophia Pullar (English), Lily Garrett (food and nutrition)

Year 12

Academic Honour Roll: Mikayla Botting, Denali Emmitt, Rhian Telfer, Nico Pettit, Connor Eley, Susannah West, Hinato Watanabe, Tommy Cotter, Phoebe Laker, Jack Sides, Noah Moody.

Highest achievement: Mikayla Botting (drama, psychology, English and level 3 calculus), Jack Sides (physical education and history), Connor Eley (level 3 physics), Belinda Hope (geography), Caleb Heyes (financial capability), Niamh Groenen (photography), Ryan Keenan (agriculture), Toby Mills (mathematics and statistics), Jack Stanley (pathways), Rhian Telfer (economics), Dom Plimmer (business), Bruce Raffills (tourism), Georgia Davies (art design), Alianna Hay (outdoor pursuits and te reo Māori), Roko Treadwell-Burke (spatial and product design), Hugo Van Maren (computer studies), Keira Beston (food and nutrition), Tommy Cotter (music), Zoe Gumpatzes (painting), William Noble-Kirkbride (woodwork), Kasey Brooks (biology), Maxene Ursua (Spanish), Alex Kettle (chemistry).

High achievement: Jack Sides (level 3 physics and level 3 calculus), Francesca Peters (biology), Jack Stanley (mechanical engineering), Rhian Telfer (psychology), Dom Plimmer (physical education), Caroline Smith, Ruby Smith, Susannah West (English), Max Henley, Madi Lovelock (mathematics and statistics), Sam Harper (physical education), Noah Moody (chemistry), Dan Russell (outdoor pursuits), Alex Kettle (physics).

Year 13

Academic Honour Roll: Abby Jago, Ryan Stembridge, Alex Coupland, Oskar Sharpe, Zoe Giles, Cholula Brown, Lili Kaler, Sam Smith, Grace Thomas, Tanyn Wood.

Highest Achievement: Sam Wilson (music technology), Xander Maguire (English), Abby Jago (food and nutrition), Amber Leslie (visual art design), Ania-Kanu Saklani (drama), Keira Follows (psychology), Minka Brooks (event and entertainment technologies), Finn Jones (outdoor pursuits and physical education), Ayla Howard (visual art photography), Cody Labes (woodwork), Lucy Radford (mathematics and statistics), Oskar Sharpe (computer studies), Ryan Stembridge (spatial and product design), Barnes Metcalfe (economics), Leah Polk (financial capability), Maria Revelant (statistics), Ruby Norman (business and enterprise), Ryan Enoka (te reo Māori), Sam Soper (materials technology), Zara Weatherly (music), Ruby Keene (Spanish), Cholula Brown (geography), Lucy Liddell (chemistry), Amelia Latchford (biology), Bella Edwards (tourism), Josie O'Brien (visual art painting), Kiana Babbington (gateway), Isaiah Chin-Nyika (academic English), Grace Thomas (history).

High achievement: Ben Quarrie, Isaac Quarrie (outdoor pursuits), Lola Rodger, Neve Dunlop (English), Minka Brooks (biology), Charlie Blampied (physics), Chloe Field (business and enterprise), Aria Winter (outdoor pursuits), Cholula Brown (psychology), Sophie Sullivan (chemistry), Tanyn Wood (academic English and statistics), Isaiah Chin-Nyika (physical education), Catty David (mathematics and statistics).

Special academic awards

Connor Eley, Isaac Lam (science and technology scholarships), Jack Sides, Grace Thomas (history), Mikayla Botting (mathematics scholarship), Taylor Jennings (outdoor pursuits scholarship), Cody Brett (effort in workshop and woodcraft workmanship), Archie Bruce, Cormac Lee Smith, Abbey Strang (musicianship), Finn Jones (outdoor pursuits), Cameron Clarke, Bede Laming (effort in workshop).

National achievements

Zoe Giles, Rhian Telfer (triathlon), Sophie Fountain (equestrian), Phoebe Laker (athletics).

International achievements

Grace Thomas, Hannah Thomas (dance), Luke Harrold (freeskiing).

Premier sports awards

Phoebe Laker (girls’ sports), Luke Harrold (boys’ sports).

Service awards

Ania-Kanu Saklani, Cholula Brown, Chloe Murray, Midori Osnabrugge, Amelia Latchford, Grace Thomas (students in the community with distinction), Chloe Murray (students in the community – special recognition), Zoe Blasby, Sam Soper, Joseph Combe, Mila Culpitt, (house spirit), Nico Pettit (special recognition - sustainability), Oscar Straker, Finn Jones (special recognition), Aria Winter (student council recognition).

Duke of Edinburgh international awards

Caroline Smith, Olivia Coad, Sophia Menlove, Winifred McAllister Brown, Sophia Pullar, Kaitlyn Tooley, Sienna Marsden, Maja Griffith-Jones, Zara Weatherly (bronze), Madi Smith, Ivy Adams, Dani Maguire, Susannah West (silver), Kate Wilkes, Chloe Murray, Lola Ritchie (gold).

Cultural awards

Ryan Enoka (te korowai o te mātauranga).

Arts award

Susannah West (wholehearted contribution to the arts), Kasey Brooks (performance).

External scholarships

Abby Jago, Amaya East, Amelia Latchford, Ania-Kanu Saklani, Archie Bruce, Barnes Metcalfe, Catty David, Charlie Blampied, Charlie Roy, Chloe Murray, Cholula Brown, Cody Brett, Dan McKean, Dorothy Anderson, Douglas Wise, Eli McArthur, Ella Halford, Finn Jones, Freya Atkins, Grace Thomas, Harry Oxley, Holly Fitzgerald, Isaiah Chin-Nyika, Jacob Fielding, Jemma Spear, Jessie Dye, Joseph Combe, Keira Follows, Lachlan Hay, Lili Kaler, Lola Rodger, Lucy Radford, Midori Osnabrugge, Mila Culpitt, Olivia Shore, Oskar Sharpe, Phoebe Gillespie, Ruby Norman, Ryan Enoka, Sam Smith, Scarlett Kirk, Sophia Lyon, Sophie Sullivan, Tanyn Wood, Tessa Unwin, Zoe Blasby, Zoe Giles.

Scholarships

Mila Culpitt, Tanyn Wood, Dorothy Anderson, Marley Lahood, Zoe Blasby (leadership and role model), Jessie McNeil (polytechnic), Grace Thomas (law), Harrison Eastwood (music), Amber Leslie (art), Jordy van der Hulst (tourism and hospitality), Myles Nichol, Jack Labes (vocational), Dani Maguire, Caroline Smith, Rhian Telfer (leadership), Robbie McRae, Claudia Paterson (agricultural), Barnes Metcalfe (construction), Charlie Roy, Lachlan Hay, Amaya East (special recognition), Cholula Brown (medical).

Premier awards

Oskar Sharpe (dux), Ryan Stembridge (proxime accessit), Emily Hunt, Zoe Waddington, Jack Sides, Mikayla Botting, Ryan Enoka, Mila Culpitt (best all-round students), Lucy Radford (best all-round student overall).

PHOTOS: MAC