Lydie Leurquin and Briana Lane were recognised at a special ceremony at First Church in April. 

The Ministry of Education and the Minister of First Church, the Reverend Tokorau Joseph and representatives of the Pacifica community in Dunedin, invited all twelve Dunedin secondary schools to select their two top Pacifica 2015 NCEA Level 2 students to attend a service in honour of Pacifica student achievement. 

Our two Logan Park High School, Year 13 representatives, Briana Lane (Samoan descent) and Lydie Leurquin (New Caledonian descent) were presented certificates of achievement by the Otago Ministry of Education’s Director of Education, Julie Anderson, and had their photos taken inside the church with whanau and teachers after their certificates had been presented. Fifteen Pacifica students from other Dunedin schools also received awards.

As the Ministry of Education’s invitation to the event stated, “Pasifika engagement is a key goal in the Government’s Pasifika Education Plan, which aims to have 85% of Pasifika 18 year olds achieving NCEA Level 2 or an equivalent qualification by 2017.”

Ms Johnson, Ms Brinsley (LPHS Pacifica Liaison Adviser) and Mr Pirie accompanied Briana and Lydie, who both achieved Merit-endorsed NCEA Level 2 qualifications in 2015. Both students plan to begin study for degree qualifications in their chosen areas of interest at Otago University and Polytechnic in 2017.