Dunstan High School

George Lindsay Smail

Having a keen interest in the humanities and the sciences, George Lindsay Smail is looking for a career where he can combine the two.

For the 17-year-old, the field of medicine is where he feels he could combine the two and see real results.

"Seeing face-to-face results and also combining science — that appeals to me."

After having lived in Central Otago for a few years, he began to take an interest in rural healthcare and the differences individual people have on the system.

"Why wouldn’t you get into that if you’re able to make a difference?"

Now in his final year of secondary school, George hopes to head straight into first-year health sciences and then study medicine at the University of Otago.

Since childhood, George has had an interest in flying.

He logged many hours on flight simulation games before wanting to fly for real.

"I decided that it was time to, you know, get into the real thing."

After learning to fly and going solo at Wānaka, George saw the potential of combining medicine with aviation.

Whether as a doctor or as a pilot, George is now interested in working in the aeromedical field.

One of the potential ways he could see himself combining the two was by being a doctor who flew himself to remote areas, like they do in Australia, Alaska or Canada.

During his time as academic committee leader, George introduced peer tutoring to the school.

Within the first few weeks of the programme opening, 30 students signed up for the programme, where senior students helped juniors.

He says hearing positive feedback was rewarding, but it was even more rewarding to hear students’ grades were improving.

Achievements

NCEA level 1 with excellence (2023); NCEA level 2 with excellence (2024); NZQA Scholarship geography (2024); IGCSE biology grade 8 (2023); Cambridge AS-level biology (2024); academic blues and bars (2024); cricket 1st XI at Gillette Cup (2025); NZ International Biology Olympiad bronze award (2024); Central Otago Youth Council vice- chairman (2025); school debating team co- captain (2024, 2025); student council rep (2023-25); academic committee leader (2025); sustainability committee member (2025); Omathalon (2022); Student Volunteer Army member award (2022).

Role models

My parents.

Hopes for the future

To continue my private pilot’s licence training, and work in the aeromedical field.

Sky Sanders

Riding horses has been part of Sky Sanders’ life since she was 3 years old.

Unsurprisingly, one of the career paths the 17-year-old is investigating involves working with animals.

One of her potential career choices is animal science, as a rural vet technician, specialising in artificial insemination (AI).

"I’ve got lots of horses, and obviously, with horses, you end up with problems, and I just love helping animals."

Her interest in AI comes from the desire to produce good quality young stock.

Another career path Sky is interested in looking into is being a secondary school physical education teacher.

Sport and physical health have always been of interest to Sky, and with her mum being a teacher, she also has an interest in becoming a teacher herself.

"I'm also quite sporty myself, so I sort of want to be able to go into more depth with that, and then maybe teach it one day."

Sky says sport also helps her feel more connected to her culture, especially after she played rugby for the Otago Maori women’s team.

"[It] really opened doors for me to experience my culture properly."

During her time at Dunstan High School, Sky has continued to explore and celebrate her culture by teaching waiata and haka to DHS staff, and she has won Mana Pounamu awards three times, most recently in 2025.

Achievements

School house captain (2025); Mana Pounamu award (2025); Central Otago Junior Sportswoman of the Year finalist (2024, 2025); NZ Secondary School Rodeo representative (2025); World NHSFR competitor in USA (2024, 2025) and NZ youth delegate (2024); NZ Secondary School transtasman rodeo team (2024, 2025); NZ Rodeo national finals top 8 placing (2025); Steel Steps netball development programme (2025); school 1st XV girls rugby (2020-25); New Zealand Rodeo Cowboys Association (NZRCA) youth committee (2024, 2025); Southern Barrel Racing Club committee (2023-25); school sportswoman of the year (2024); Otago U18 Māori women’s rugby (2024); CINCH Leader of Today Award (2024); NZ Rookie Barrel Racing Champion (2024); South Island Barrel Racing Champion (2024); Central Otago Does Women's Rugby (2024); school Hall of Fame inductee (2023), [abridged]