High praise for young achievers

Twenty of Hastings most well accomplished youngsters have received recognition from Hastings Heretaunga Lions Club and the district council.

Nominated by their high schools, the group of students boasted an impressive plethora of accolades at last night's Hastings Young Achievers award ceremony in the Hawke's Bay Opera House.

Nearly all students had a combination of sporting achievements, academic triumphs and cultural enterprises, with many of the recipients representing or winning national and regional awards.

Achievements gained included canoe polo, basketball, netball, volleyball, hockey, surf lifesaving, road cycling, and tennis champions, an accomplished fashion designer, debating champions, writers, musicians, actors and orators.

All recipients had made significant contributions to their schools.

Hastings Heretaunga Lions Club organiser Viv Brown said the awards were a way to combat the negative stereotypes often cast upon youth.

"We just want to recognise the youth of today by promoting the positive things that the youth are contributing to society and to the community," she said.

Hastings District Mayor Lawrence Yule, whose son Henry was one of the award recipients, said the second annual event was the culmination of months of hard work by the Lions.

"The Lions aim to bring to the fore and acknowledge young people in Hastings who have shown themselves to be aspirational in outlook and inspirational to all who know them - their families, friends and schools."

The students had professional portraits capturing them in action taken by award-winning photographer Terry Winn.

Those framed works will be on display from today in Thomsons Suits on Heretaunga St before a more permanent home is found for them.

Youth Achievers

Flaxmere College: Charlesirene Kendrick and Mare Te Runa

Hastings Boys' High School: Ryan Adams and Jake Vesty

Hastings Girls' High School: Emily Brett and Courtney Sanders

Havelock North High School: Zack Johnson and Kate Mackintosh

Iona College: Emily Mackie and Lucy Ross

Karamu High School: Stephen Clothier and Brittany Rorrison

Lindisfarne College: Mokoia Huata and Henry Yule

St John's College: Alonzo Burton and Chris Stinson

Taikura Rudolf Steiner School: Kaydy-Moana Jones and Hannah van Kampen

Woodford House: Hayley Bastin and Sophie PrimroseBy Morgan Tai