Napier based Korean gets English language award | Hawkes Bay News | Local News in Hawkes Bay

Academic excellence and community involvement saw local Korean student Jae-ik Bae named the first English Language School Student of the Year.

Education New Zealand named 25-year-old Mr Bae, a student at New Horizon College of English in Napier, as the winner for the English language school sector of the inaugural awards.

Principal and Company Director of the school, Christine Schmidli, said Mr Bae was nominated due to his excellent grades, leadership qualities and community involvement.

"We thought he had done wonderfully academically, scoring a seven on his general English course in just three months here," she said. "He also contributed time to the community by raising money for the Japan and Christchurch earthquakes and contributes to the school as well."

Yesterday, Mr Bae was congratulated by Napier City Mayor Barbara Arnott.

"I am very honoured," he said. "I have never met the mayor of my own city."

Mrs Arnott was impressed with Mr Bae, and gave him a book about Napier and a Greenstone so he would "one day return to Napier".