Fifty-six students from 29 schools across Otago were recognised for their achievements at the Otago Daily Times Class Act award ceremony at the Dunedin Public Art Gallery yesterday.
The award celebrates excellence in a variety of fields including academic, sporting, arts, cultural and leadership.
The students were offered words of wisdom by the Prime Minister and ODT editor Paul McIntyre before receiving their certificates from Dunedin mayor-elect Sophie Barker.
Mr Luxon said the Class Act recipients already were showing qualities that made the Otago region a remarkable place to live and work.
"Otago has a long tradition, a proud tradition, of producing people who roll up their sleeves, take opportunities and back themselves."
Mr Luxon offered the students his thoughts on leadership and what he thought really mattered.
His career had taken him to a lot of unexpected places from being the chief executive of Air New Zealand to becoming the prime minister of the country.
"It doesn’t matter where you start, it’s about where you finish," he said.
Being a leader was less about the job title and more about making a difference and helping other people succeed.
He encouraged the students to find purpose, take control of their future and focus on building relationships.
He told the perfectionists in the crowd to "give it up".
"You will travel through life a lot more lightly not shattering when you get setbacks, being resilient and learning from mistakes."
Mr McIntyre asked the young recipients of the award to aim high, continue working hard and ask questions.
"Your generation faces many challenges but I have such faith in young people today that you’ll come up with the solutions and you’ll have exciting futures ahead."
It was all about trying your best, he said.
