Year 10 student Lucia Watt capped off a strong Aquinas performance at the annual Chanel Shield Challenge, winning first place in the Junior Poetry section.

Her poem reading beat entrants from St John’s College and Sacred Heart Girls’ College in Hamilton, Rotorua’s John Paul College and hosts Campion College in Gisborne. The annual challenge between colleges in the Hamilton Diocese sees Year 9-13 students compete in speeches, poetry, drama, and debates.

Fourteen Aquinas students took part in this year’s August 12-13 contest. And although Aquinas didn’t come away with the overall win, our students certainly delivered. Thea Smith Y13 gave a heartfelt Māori Perspective Speech, earning a stunning second place. Y12’s Finley Jones placed second-equal in the Senior Poetry section, Monique Faire Y10 achieved third place in the Junior Speech section, and the Aquinas Drama and Debating teams both finished third! Congratulations also to Y11’s Zoe Sherlock who was headhunted after her senior speech, and asked if she would speak at a future event.

The Aquinas group, accompanied by Mr Roberson and Mr Hesqua, was welcomed to Campion College with a moving powhiri and mass. Special thanks to the students in the team who gave up their weekend to represent Aquinas College, and to Mr Hesqua for kindly giving his time to support the students.