Katie Wilson
Katie Wilson has a penchant for adrenaline.
So it probably makes sense she has dedicated her whole life to horse riding.
She has been riding hoses competitively since she was just 6 years old.
In year 9, she gave up on all other sports and decided to focus on becoming an equestrian.
Katie says she probably spends about 30 hours a week looking after horses on top of being a student.
There is a lot of risk taking involved in the sport, she says.
"A lot of people underestimate the technicality of it."
Katie has had a head start in the sport because her mother used to ride horses.
She loves the physical and mental challenges that come with horse riding.
Over the past year, she has gone through huge disappointments with her horses, but they helped her build patience and resilience.
Both of her horses are recovering from injury.
This means she has had to sit out of a few competitions and it has set her back from achieving some key goals she had for this season.
However, helping the horses recover from injury has led her to grow a real affinity for caring for them.
"Your partnership with your horse is like no other.
"They’re like my babies, but they’re my team-mates as well."
Looking after her horses requires a lot of dedication, she says.
"It’s not just something you can just go and do.
"It takes years to build partnerships with your horse."
Katie’s dream is to compete as an equestrian at the Olympics.
Achievements
New Zealand Pony Club Association (NZPCA) Young Achievers Award nominee (2025); NZPCA InterPacific New Zealand team rider (2025); NZPCA full A riding certificate (2025); level 2 overall diligence award (2024); South Island Junior rider champion (2024); National Showjumping Championships placed 6th overall and was recognised as emerging talent (2023); South Island one-day event championships CCN80-S Under 21 winner (2023); South Island one-day event championships CCN105-S, 2nd place (2023); St Hilda's Sports Award for horse riding (2022), Otago Southland NZPCA eventing team (2022).
Role models
International World Cup Show jumper and founder of the Global Amateur Tour company Lucy Olphert and New Zealand international 5 Star eventer Holly Swain.
Hopes for the future
To run her own stable and become a professional horse rider.
Megha Senthilkumar
Megha Senthilkumar does not complain about problems — she solves them.
When she found herself having trouble with her sleep in year 11, she conducted a nationwide survey in which she contacted 249 different schools, to research how sleep affects adolescent pupils.
For her efforts, she won the Best in Fair award at the 2023 Aurora Energy Otago Science and Technology Fair.
But that was not enough.
Last year, she doubled down on her research and conducted an international survey on the same topic, and once again, she won Best in Fair.
Aside from being a diligent student, Megha also loves public speaking because it gives her the opportunity to talk about her opinions.
She is passionate about speaking on racial and gender-related discrimination.
"As a child, I was racially discriminated against and physically abused, and instead of just feeling upset about it, I wanted to make a difference."
It is always very emotional for her when she speaks because she feels her voice has the power to change people’s perceptions.
She wants to be the voice for people that have not had the same opportunities as her.
Megha has learnt a lot about perseverance from her parents, whose resilience and hard
work have always inspired her.
Megha is planning to study health science next year and try her hand at medicine.
Achievements
National Girlboss Education Award winner (2025); Crimson education scholarship winner (2025); level 2 chemistry, biology, physics, English, calculus/algebra endorsed with excellence (2024); BOT student representative (2024, 2025); academic prefect (2025); student leader of science club (2025); student leader of school Amnesty club (2024, 2025); 1st place in Otago/Southland Rotary Speech competition (Jensen district speech trophy) (2025); 1st place in Dunedin Rotary Speech competition (2025); second place in Otago Race unity speech award (2023, 2025); School Zonta co-vice-president (2024); best in fair recipient at Otago Science and Technology Fair (2023, 2024); Otago Medical Research Foundation Award (2023, 2024); New Zealand Psychological Society Award (2023, 2024); Aurora Award (2023, 2024); New Zealand Statistics Award (2023); Otago Community Trust Rangatahi Leadership Scholarship (2023); chemistry and biology Olympiad passed (2024, 2025).
Role model
Her mother.
Hopes for the future
To become a doctor and give back to the community.
