Archie Dunn
Archie Dunn
The body achieves what the mind believes.
Deadlifting 220kg may seem impossible to most people, but powerlifter Archie Dunn says it is mostly mind over matter — along with a fair bit of training and technique.
"Once you get past that mental barrier, it’s a lot easier to lift things that you might not think possible.
"A lot of the time, if you fail lifting something the first time, you’ll get it the second time if you get your mind right, even though you might be tired."
Mastering the "mindset" has helped the John McGlashan College pupil win the Southern Powerlifting Provincials 74kg sub junior class and 93kg sub junior class, set a Southern Powerlifting record with a 205kg squat, and qualify to represent New Zealand in powerlifting at the Commonwealth Games and Oceania Championships.
Archie (17) is not just brawn. He also has brains, particularly to do with ecology.
He is involved in community research projects, working as a lab assistant, technician or analyst for EcoOtago, the Tomahawk Lagoon Citizen Science Team, Marine Metre Squared, Town Belt Kaitiaki and the Otago Peninsula biodiversity group.
He recently wrote a paper about slime moulds and how they could be used to design fire escapes by putting samples in a maze and getting them to find the most efficient way out.
"Slime moulds will find the most efficient path. That’s what they do."
He is hoping his findings will be published in the Young Scientist Journal later this year.
He plans to study health sciences and ecology next year.
"There’s a lot of potential in ecology. Say in 10 years’ time, I might be able to find an application for the use of slime or an organism to offer solutions to things like cancer."
Achievements: NCEA level 1 with excellence, level 2 mathematics with excellence (2019); NZ Scholarship English (2020); Instituto Cervantes Spanish A1 (2018); Otago University Spanish Club (2021); Education Perfect Championships platinum award (2021); maths and Spanish tutor (2019-21); qualified to represent NZ in powerlifting at Commonwealth Games and Oceania Championships (2021); 1st Southern Powerlifting Provincials 74kg sub junior class (2019), 1st 93kg sub junior class (2021), record holder with 205kg squat (2021); school powerlifting strength and conditioning coach (2021); EcoOtago lab technician (2020); Tomahawk Lagoon Citizen Science Team student leader and analyst (2020); Quadrat sampling for Marine Metre Squared (2020); Town Belt Kaitiaki (2020); Otago Peninsula biodiversity group (2020); Ocean Youth member (2020); Otago Debating development squad (2021); debating tutor (2021); SADD student leader (2021), national conference delegate (2021); Heart Foundation area co-ordinator (2020); World Vision youth leader (2021); 40-hour famine co-organiser (2021); Student Volunteer Army student rep (2021); philosophy club manager (2021); Rainbow Youth volunteer (2021); St Vincent de Paul youth volunteer (2020); Presbyterian Support volunteer (2020).
Role model: My teachers and powerlifter George Leeman.
Hopes for the future: To study health sciences and ecology.
William Tong
William Tong
William Tong says there are silver linings in almost every dark cloud.
Four years ago, the John McGlashan College deputy head boy was diagnosed with Crohn’s Disease.
"Honestly, I didn’t take it well.
"It really affected me mentally and physically.
"But it was a double-edged sword — it has been both the best thing and the worst thing that’s ever happened to me.
"Before the diagnosis, I took life for granted. Crohn’s gave me a new outlook on life. It has been life-changing."
The 17-year-old is eternally grateful for all the support and encouragement he has received from his family, friends, fellow pupils and his teachers for getting him "back on track".
"All the support they’ve given me over the years has been amazing.
"I’ve been encouraged by my parents to give back to those who have given so much to me.
"Giving back to the school for all the support that they’ve given me — it’s important to me."
As well as carrying out deputy head boy duties, he is a service and chapel prefect and a library prefect. He has been a peer tutor for the past four years, and on the student council, and has played the Last Post and reveille on his trumpet at the school’s Anzac Day commemorations for the past six years.
He is also quite the entertainer, performing regularly with the school orchestra, the jazz band and the Dunedin Youth Orchestra.
Next year he plans to continue his high academic achievement and study neuroscience at the University of Otago, in the hope of eventually going into behavioural and cognitive neuroscience research.
"It’s one of the big unknowns. There’s so much to discover about the human brain.
"I want to research people with Alzheimer's, dementia and cerebral palsy, hopefully to better the lives of others."
Achievements: Deputy head boy (2021); service and chapel prefect (2021); library prefect (2021); NCEA level 1 and 2 with excellence; academic blues (2020); NCEA level 3 calculus with merit (2020); scholar's tie (2020); school general excellence award (2015-20); peer tutor (2018-21); student council (2018, 2019); Dunedin Youth Orchestra trumpet (2018-20); McGlashan Jazz Big Band trumpet (2015-20); cultural blue (2020); Columba College Orchestra trumpet (2019, 2021); Anzac Day commemorations trumpeter (2016-21); Otago Secondary Schools Music Festival (2015-20); cultural representative award for music (2015-20).
Role model: "My family. They keep me focused and grounded."
Hopes for the future: To study neuroscience at the University of Otago.
