Hero photograph
Wilson Uliano
 

STC Emerging Leaders

Brendan Biggs —

Emerging Leaders and Scholarships awarded for 2015.

STC EMERGING LEADERS 2014

Wilson Uliano
Canterbury University – Emerging Leaders Scholarship

Wilson’s senior year saw him as Pasifica Leader in charge of all Polynesian students in the school. Wilson has already received accolades for his NCEA academic successes from the Samoan community this year; with the presentation of a Pasifika Emerging Leader’s award for 2015. Wilson has shown outstanding leadership, commitment and initiative this year as part of many Pasifika events, Pasifika Councils and in the area of mentoring young Samoan boys to strive for excellence in their studies. In 2015 he has led the Pasifika students as part of the Student Leadership Team in the role of Edmund Rice Pasifika Leader. Wilson is also a fine sportsman with rugby, softball and volleyball featuring. He has shelved the sports this year for a concentration on the academic arena. He impresses me with his ability to prioritise for academia and culture. Culturally, the school has had his leadership in Polyfest events, Pasifika performances, Catholic School’s celebrations and now dabbling in the formation of a school choir. The weekends see Wilson very involved in the local parishes of St Bernadettes and St Marys in community service with computing, food banks youth events and peer tutoring.

Alex Hansby
Canterbury University – Academic Scholarship - DUX 2015

At this year’s prize giving Alex was named as College Dux. He was awarded the Father J J O’Sullivan Cup and he received a University of Canterbury Scholarship. Alex was first in Year 13 Geography, Religious Studies, calculus and English. He was second in Statistics and Economics. He was the Dux of year 11 and in year 12 was placed first in many subjects. He has been awarded the top debater and public speaker for the last three years. All of Alex’s awards have been gained with immense maturity and a quiet pride. His time management skills are well developed and he has committed himself to the wider life of the College as peer tutor, peer mediator and Culture Captain in the student leadership team of 2015. Alex has shown outstanding leadership and initiative and was part of theatre sports for all his years at school as well as involved in every production. His presence on stage is always controlled and humorous. He will be a great loss to the drama department when he leaves. I hope he continues with theatre in his future and that he creates many more variety concerts. The sporting arenas of cross country, swimming, netball and rugby have all been touched on by Alex while at the College. He represented Canterbury in the sports of cross-country and swimming up until year 12. His commitment and ability to be involved is a pleasure to see. He is a very active young man who is unassuming and modest in his success and then still able to have immense energy for the academic arena too. 2016 will see Alex starting a Bachelor of Laws and Arts majoring in political Science.

Josh Smith
Canterbury University – Emerging Leaders Scholarship

Josh has completed Levels 1 & 2 NCEA and has studied at Level 3 this year with the clear aim of completing University Entrance. His level one and two NCEA were both endorsed with excellence which is testament to him giving of his best at all times. Josh is also a talented sportsman and has represented the College in football and cricket. As well as sport, Josh has been very involved in all school productions, variety concerts, music evenings and also a strong interest in theatre sports. It is always a pleasure to see a student with such enthusiasm for anything on offer. From the moment Josh arrived at the College he has had his hand up saying “pick me”. Josh has been a very involved and responsible Year 13 student. 2015 saw him in the official leadership role of the Edmund Rice Community Leader and he also worked solidly as a coordinator of the peer tutors, peer mediators and he has been a representative on the student council. Initiatives he has worked on include: “man of the Week”, “Food Bank”, “Eddies Breakfast” and a “Peer circle”. His leadership has continued through the year with steady and consistent involvement. His efforts have culminated in his participation in activities outside of the College. World Vision, street retreats, Edmund Rice conferences and White Ribbon events have all had Josh as an interested and vital contributor. Josh was also awarded the father D K O’Sullivan Cup for positive contribution to school life in 2015. Josh is heading to Canterbury to start a Bachelor of Science majoring in Geography and Geology.

Delane Luke
Canterbury University – Emerging Leaders Scholarship

Live the Dream Scholarship as well.

Delane is a young man who will succeed well in the University Arena and someone who will be both reliable and solutions focused. He has completed NCEA with an Excellence Endorsement at level one and a Merit at level two. His level three results are currently tracking towards another Merit endorsement. Delane had two very important roles within the school this year. He was the Co-College Captain and Marlow House Leader. These positions are both extremely demanding and he has met these challenges head on and been an exceptional leader of and for the boys. Delane has been a part of the Maori and Pasifika school council and has presented sound change ideas and lifted the presence of Maori in the College. Kapahaka in the school has valued his input with Delane’s role as kaia for many house and school events. Delane has personally represented the school at Manu Korero Regionals and Nationals. Delane is also a fine sportsman with rugby league being his starting sport at the College. He took this to being a grand finalist at the National Tournament Developing Grade in 2014. Rugby has also featured heavily as an area of success. He has represented Canterbury in rugby at u16 as the team captain, u17 captaining the school’s European touring team, and has finished his time at school being the first XV’s captain. 2016 will see Delane heading to complete a Bachelor of arts majoring in Maori and Indigenous Studies.

Matau te-Aika Puanaiki
Canterbury University – Emerging Leaders Scholarship

Matau has completed level one NCEA with a Merit endorsement and in 2014 achieved his National Certificate in Maori (Te Waharoa) Level 2. He was the top student in year 12 in Te Reo Maori completing his level three Reo qualifications in 2014. 2015 has seen him studying the University of Canterbury Te Kakano language course. His completion of level 100 papers in Maori Language has readied him well for University studies. Matau has also shown great leadership in a number of areas at the College. He has been involved in kapahaka for the past five years at St Thomas’ and performed at National Competitions at Manu Korero. He has helped tutor kapahaka for many korero at St Thomas’. 2015 has seen Matau performing in the adult setting of kapahaka at Te Matatini in 2015. He is thoughtful, caring and confident in a public forum and very calm under pressure. Matau is passionate about his Maori heritage and very proud to express himself culturally. 2016 will see him starting a Bachelor of Health Science majoring in Public Health and Maori Indiginous Health.

Campbell Harrison
Lincoln University – Future Leaders Scholarship

Campbell has completed year 13 with excellent success with Lincoln University. In 2016 he will be studying a Bachelor of Agricultural Science hoping to become a soil scientist. Other highlights for him while being at school were his academic success in Level 1 NCEA with a Merit Endorsement. Another was being part of the winning football seniors who won the Linwood Cup in 2014 and also qualifying as top seed in this year’s National Tournament. Campbell has been involved in many sporting trips while being at St Thomas and a few that he recalls are rugby and football. As this is being written and printed Campbell will be on the school’s India Immersion trip.

Michael Talyancich
Victoria University – Excellence Scholarship 

Michael has Levels One Two and “hopefully” Three NCEA excellence endorsements in his academic spheres. He has been involved with senior debating for the last three years and is now taking these skills gleaned and polished here at STC into the court room or legal arenas of society and community law. He will be studying a Bachelor of Laws and Bachelor of Arts majoring in Philosophy at Victoria University in 2016. A highlight of his time at St Thomas’ was his immersion trip to the Phillipines in 2014 where he worked with local schools and people on the margins.

Charlie Devine
Victoria University – Excellence Scholarship
Victoria University – Vice Chancellor’s Scholarship - $20,000 over three years

Charlie has three years of excellence endorsements under his belt through NCEA and was our Edmund Rice Social Justice leader for 2015. The highlight for him was being part of the Young Enterprise Scheme for three years and the Youth Custody Index for the last two. Products developed have been: a safety alarm for agricultural workers, an emergency stretcher and a learning product for disadvantaged youth. At the latest school Prize giving he scoped the pool with many awards: An Enterprise Cup for best year 13 student in Commerce, a year 13 Technology Award, a year 13 Design and Visual communication award and The Murray Ainsley Cup and the Dean Wallace Scholarship for General Excellence. Charlie will be studying a Bachelor of Architectural Studies at Victoria University seeking a Masters eventually.

Jordan Rahurahu

Fairfield University in Connecticut, USA

2015 has been a very successful year for him with his sports seeing him gaining the MAConnelly Cup for senior swimming and the T C Cup for Sportsman of the year. He also received the O’Connor trophy for a student who achieves National Honours in his chosen sport – Swimming and the Parents and Friends association Cup for sportsman of the Year for 2015. Jordan has passed NCEA levels 2 and 3 with excellence has sat the American SAT test gaining an academic scholarship. 2016 sees him awarded an Athletic and Academic Scholarship to Fairfield University, in Connecticut, USA, to the value of $305,000 NZD ($200,000 USD) over four years. He will be majoring in Mechanical Engineering and hoping to qualify to study for an accelerated Master’s Degree. He will also be swimming and competing for the University and hope to come back to NZ in 2020 ready to trial for the 2020 Tokyo Olympics.