Tasmin is a year 10 pupil at Te Kura o Tititea Mount Aspiring College (MAC) and was a finalist in the ages 14-16 category.
Nominee Charlotte Jackson said Tasmin was regarded as "an amazing volunteer, helper, friend", who put in "an enormous amount of time, often in her school holidays" to support Mint’s young adults and children take part in holiday programmes, camps, and sports.
"She is vibrant, positive, respectful, energetic and fun. She is adored by those she works with because of these qualities," Ms Jackson said.
Tasmin began volunteering for MINT three years ago, after completing a six-week MINT horizons course to increase her skills and confidence when supporting and interacting with people who have intellectual disability.
"Since then we have seen her grow so much, in not only her confidence but her ability to support those in our community, and at MAC that have additional needs," Ms Jackson said.
Tasmin said she valued the people and the personal connections she had gained.
"I love feeling as though I’m making a positive impact on someone’s life or even day. Volunteering seems to help me as much as it helps others, so it’s not entirely selfless," Tasmin said.
Up to 24 young people were honoured for their volunteering efforts during the function at Kahu Youth’s new youth centre in Plantation Rd.
Awards media spokeswoman Jo Lewis said it was "very special to shine the spotlight on these young volunteers, who are truly inspirational in the way they are building community in Wānaka".
It was the first time Kahu Youth had been able to host the awards since the Covid pandemic restrictions lifted.
Queenstown Lakes councillor Cody Tucker made the presentations while singer Juno Gerlach and DJ Sam Wilson performed.
OTHER AWARDS:
Category One: 11 to 13-year-olds
Charlie Nesbitt , Anika West, Oscar Searle, Luke Silipo, Blanka Lewis, Jamie Taylor, Holly Radford, Ivy Campbell, Laia Mactaggart, Charlotte Tucker, Amber Gemmell, Bess Wilson.
Winner: Oscar Searle, for volunteering at the Challenge Wanaka Festival, Kahu Youth, Ripe Wanaka Food Wine Festival, Wanaka Show, Wānaka Grebes documentary, Challenge Wanaka Multi and designing and making a recycling station for school.
Category Two: 14 to 16-year-olds
Sam Wilson, Juno Gerlach, Tasmin Murphy, Toby Mills, Chloe Murray, Susanah West, Lily Campbell.
Winner: Toby Mills, for volunteering for MINT, supporting the MINT music programme, advocating for better accessibility around Mt Aspiring College, fundraising $500,000 for school accessibility projects.
Category Three: 17 to 18-year-olds
Sienna Jones, Emma Lamb, Laura Watkins, Elliot Bain, Molly Wilson.
Winner: Emma Lamb, for achieving 100-plus hours of community service with the MAC Students in the Community Programme, involving primary schools, the elderly and coaching and umpiring netball, student co-ordinator with Food for Love.
