Otago Boys' High School

Charlie Ottrey

Charlie Ottrey has never been the loudest guy on the field.

The openside flanker says he chooses to lead by his actions instead.

He is proud to be the first in his family to receive the Class Act award.

"It’s pretty surreal really.

"No-one in my family has ever got it, so it was a pretty cool achievement to get."

He says his older brother, who was also a head boy at Otago Boys’ High School, set a good example for him to follow.

But he still wants to carve his own path as a leader by doing what comes naturally to him.

"I’ve led through my actions, that’s my way of leadership."

He has learnt some important lessons about resilience by playing rugby and cricket, and he has applied them to his leadership at school.

His journey on the rugby field has been a "wee bit rocky", he says.

Last year, he got injured and was out for the entire season.

It has been frustrating for him because he was planning on having a big year on the field this year.

However, he still managed to take something positive out of the experience.

He has spent his time on the sideline, coaching an under-14 team.

"It was pretty cool to get a different perspective on it through coaching."

This year he came back fit and healthy, and captained the Otago Boys’ 1st XV team.

Ultimately, he dreams of playing professional rugby, and next year, he hopes to play rugby for either Otago or Canterbury.

Achievements

Head prefect (2025), positive postcard for respect (2025), school 1st XI cricket (2023-25), sports blue for cricket (2023-25), Otago U17 cricket rep (2023-24), school 1st XV rugby captain (2025), Shave for a Cure participant (2023, 2025), school cricket dedication and sportsmanship prize (2024), year 12 centurion (2024), school U14 rugby coach (2024), NCEA level 2 merit endorsed (2024), 1st in agriculture (2024), school 2nd XV rugby (2023), most promising forward (2023), Otago U16 rugby rep (2023), NCEA level 1 excellence endorsed (2023), 2nd South Island Athletics U19 4x100m relay (2023), sports blue athletics (2023), intermediate field events championship (2023), hockey 1st XI (2022-23), academic blues (2023), 2nd in agriculture (2023), 2nd in physical education (2023), positive postcard for respect and honour (2023).

Role model

Parents Hamish and Sarah Ottrey.

Hopes for the future

To play professional sport.

Joseph Chen

The mind is not a vessel to be filled, but a fire to be kindled.

That’s why, from a young age, Joseph Chen’s parents instilled in him a passion for academia.

"It’s been something that has been a constant since primary school."

In recent years, he has accumulated many academic and competitive awards in mathematics, sport

and chess.

Joseph started playing badminton competitively in year 9 because he was inspired by the passion of his coach Andrew King.

In year 10, Joseph made the 1st team for badminton at Otago Boys’ High School, and it wasn’t long before he started training with the Otago regional junior squad.

Since then, he has represented Otago and the South Island, and has had placings in competitions, including winning the National Secondary School Championships Division 2 last year.

He says he is a "quietly confident" player on the court and that translated to the rest of his life as well.

"I just try to be very rational."

Joseph says he often finds himself in high-pressure situations, but his experiences on court, behind a chess board or in mathematics competitions had helped him control his nerves.

His confidence also came from his Catholic faith.

"God has just helped me. I always feel him as a guiding presence throughout my life."

Next year, Joseph plans to study health sciences at the University of Otago, and his dream job is to become a doctor.

Achievements

Prefect (2025), NCEA level 1 and 2, NZQA Scholarship in biology (2025), NCEA level 3 calculus (2024), U19 mainland badminton representative (2025), U19 men’s doubles runner-up badminton Canterbury championship (2025), scholarship biology (2025), Otago badminton junior representative (2022-25), U19 men’s doubles winner Otago open (2025), 2nd at Otago secondary interschool team chess championship (2025), year 12 centurion (2024), academic blues (2023, 2024), cultural blues orchestra (2024), orchestra (2021-24), chess teams (2021-24), U17 mainland badminton representative (2023-24), U17 mixed doubles winner South Island championship (2024), 1st at national secondary school champion divison 2 (2024), 2nd at South Island secondary school cup (2024), academic blues (2023), sports blue for badminton and chess (2023). [Abridged].