Mia Fay from Mapua School is being recognised for her leadership qualities with a BLAKE Young Leader Award.

Mia Fay is one of those students who leads by example and with much enthusiasm. She is trustworthy, supportive, conscientious, and displays considerable initiative. Mia has a strong moral compass, and this sits behind all of her actions and achievements. These achievements reach out across the spectrum, from academic to sporting, musical to artistic, drama to environmental, and likewise to social interactions. Mia is well-liked, well respected, inclusive, empathetic, positive, and brings out the best in others. She is simply a natural leader in every sense of that term.

Sponsored by Westpac NZ since 2011, the annual BLAKE Young Leader Awards acknowledge young New Zealanders who demonstrate outstanding leadership qualities within their school communities. Schools from across New Zealand celebrated their Year 5 to 8 leaders throughout September and October.

BLAKE CEO James Gibson says, "the BLAKE Young Leader Award celebrates our young emerging leaders and encourages them to continue doing what they're doing, which is making a positive difference among their communities and inspiring those around them."

"With the support of Westpac, the BLAKE Young Leader Award programme goes from strength to strength, with more and more schools getting on board each year to celebrate their young students."

Veronica Miller, manager of Westpac's Richmond branch, says Westpac is delighted to get behind New Zealand's rising stars.

"We're committed to helping our customers and communities prosper and grow, which is why we're thrilled to support these outstanding young leaders. Our Westpac staff look forward to these visits each year.

"These young people will shape our future, and it's incredibly inspiring to see the work they are doing now - whether it be leading their peers in a team or club, taking on extra duties to assist others or having the courage to drive positive change."

Nominated students are presented with a prize pack, certificate and BLAKE Young Leader Award Medal. The young leaders are nominated by either their class or a teacher.

To find out more about the BLAKE Young Leader Awards, visit www.blakenz.org.