Identifying leaders of tomorrow: Class Act 2021

The Otago Daily Times’ Class Act initiative shines a light on the outstanding young talent we have in our region, but, unfortunately, we cannot escape the restrictions and the evil tentacles of Covid-19.

ODT Editor Barry Stewart

Class Act celebrates the excellence of young people in our province and now, more than ever, we will be looking to them for leadership.

It’s been another demanding year like no other and has made us acutely aware of the importance and value of education, science and strong leadership. The youth of the region have a big responsibility, for the future is in their hands. It is from this talented and ambitious group our future leaders in politics, arts, business, education and sports will emerge. The Otago Daily Times Class Act programme began in 2000, with 26 of the 29 high schools in the newspaper’s primary circulation area each selecting one or two outstanding pupils to join that year’s class.

In this, its 22nd year, 28 schools are participating. Between them, they have nominated 56 pupils as representative of the cream of Otago’s secondary school elite in 2021.

Class Act has been a particularly rewarding journey for the Otago Daily Times. It was introduced to the newspaper in 2000 by former editor Robin Charteris.

We are also delighted the programme has been acknowledged by the University of Otago. This year’s award recipients will receive an automatic entitlement to a University of Otago Leaders of Tomorrow Scholarship for 2022.

We take pride in seeing and reading, through the columns of this newspaper, of the milestones and achievements of our Class Act recipients as they make their way into adult life.

Tomorrow afternoon, at a special awards ceremony, the pupils should have come together as a class and, individually, be presented with Class Act 2021 certificates by the Prime Minister, Jacinda Ardern. However, Alert level 2 restrictions have ruled that out.

The Prime Minister has expressed her disappointment at not being able to attend and we are working with her to ensure the class of 2021 is acknowledged from the top. We are preparing a special video and the Prime Minister and others will honour these leaders of tomorrow.

The students were nominated by their schools on the basis of their achievements and potential for success in adult life. The only criterion the newspaper gives the schools is excellence.

The 56 pupils nominated for awards have been photographed and profiled on the following pages of this publication. We trust you enjoy reading it and, like us, are inspired and encouraged by the young people featured. The future is bright.

Acting Vice-Chancellor, Prof Helen Nicholson, University of Otago

Young people from around the country choose Otago for good reasons. They know that our university offers degrees and postgraduate qualifications of the highest standard. Otago’s long and continuing tradition for excellence in education speaks for itself and is regarded by many as the gateway to a long and successful career.

At Otago we celebrate excellence and leadership and we continue to offer the best possible all-round education for the leaders of tomorrow.

Excellent, inspiring teachers are central to ensuring that we remain at the forefront of New Zealand universities in teaching. We see sustained excellence in the outstanding achievements of the university’s world-class teachers. Just last week we achieved a feat unsurpassed by any other university in New Zealand. Dr Latika Samalia, from our Department of Anatomy, won the Prime Minister’s Supreme Award for tertiary teaching excellence, meaning our leading teachers have won this award for seven out of the previous 10 years.

At Otago, our goal is to encourage our students to become successful, socially minded people who will go on to contribute to their communities and society, both here and overseas.

These are exactly the kind of young students who are receiving Class Act awards this year. Should the recipients choose to come to the University of Otago we are delighted to offer them a guaranteed $6000 Leaders of Tomorrow Scholarship, as a minimum.

Let me be among the first to congratulate the 2021 Class Act recipients and the excellent and exciting future they represent.

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