Students involved in the thriving UHC sport and cultural areas were acknowledged at the annual Sports and Cultural Prizegiving, held recently in the school hall.

Many great successes across a range of mediums were highlighted at the awards with many deserving students acknowledged.

Oliana Tia received the Colin McConie Cup for Sportsperson of the Year, while Mei Von Keisenberg won the Cindy Ritossa Memorial Trophy for Outstanding Contribution to the Performing Arts.

At the event, guest speaker Bennett Pomana, who in 2018 was inducted into the New Zealand Music Hall of fame, encouraged students never to give up in their pursuit of their dreams and to make the most of school - as it sets people up for life.

The former UHC student was an original member of Upper Hutt Pose and Dam Native. Bennett moved into many different areas throughout his life. He was a presenter of the television show Mai time, where he interviewed the likes of Tony Hawk and other celebrities. He then moved on to be a producer and presenter at Flava FM.

Bennett also advised students to read as much as they can as it opened doors for him in terms of travel, sport, becoming a radio host.

Congratulations to all the winners, and in particular the major award winners who are listed below:

Major sporting awards:

• Colin McConie Cup for Sportsperson of the Year – Oliana Tia
• Maori Sports Person of the Year – Flyn Morgan
• Pepper Hearfield Tungatt Cup for success in their chosen sport at a national level - Meagan Stokes
• Richard Campbell Trophy recognising Athlete of the Year - Anthony Pritchard
• The Bruce Layton Cup for commitment to Upper Hutt College Sport - Nawaia Kale-Puru
• The Chandler Family Cup recognising students who have best displayed the ideals of sportsmanship - Oliana Tia & Lennox Amyes
• Bank of New Zealand Cup for Junior Sports Person of the Year - Meagan Stokes
• Upper Hutt College Cup for Awhina Sports Person of the Year - Damien Ombler
• Upper Hutt College Cup for Student Official of the Year - Kash Tapa
• Upper Hutt College Cup for Student Coach of the Year - Kuan Zhou

Major cultural and service awards

• The Cindy Ritossa Memorial Trophy for Outstanding Contribution to the Performing Arts - Mei Von Keisenberg
• The Bloomfield Cup is awarded by our long serving librarian, Ms Bloomfield, and recognises outstanding service to the library over a period of time - Miya Abbott-Tutaki
• Upper Hutt College Production Award is awarded for technical contributions to school Productions - Chris Chivers
• Cicero Debating Cup - Edison Yang
• JD Howell Cup for Contribution to Drama - Luke McCarten
• Amy Fuller Cup for contribution to the Performing Arts - Cora Noble
• The female and male Kapa Haka Awards for excellence in Kapa Haka performance - Vea Naitoko-Tuivailala and Kupa Miller
• The Mapihi Maurea Award for the top student of Māori Studies - Will Robinson.