The annual ILT Youthmark Young Achiever event was held at the Ascot Park Hotel and recognised Year 13 pupils from Southland secondary schools who have excelled in their chosen field.
The awards and accompanying photography exhibition featured achievements across a diverse array of genres — from sport to academia and the arts,
First initiated in 1987, the Youthmark Awards are supported by the ILT and Mataura Licensing Trust and this year’s event celebrated 50 pupils.
Invercargill photographer Vanessa Adcock was tasked with capturing images of the pupils for an exhibition and was suitably in awe of their accomplishments.
"I have thoroughly enjoyed working with such bright, well-adjusted young adults. This award is testament to their dedication and validates all of their hard work. They are each so deserving of the honour," she said.
"To see such a high calibre coming through certainly bodes well for our future and I’m excited to see what they will achieve as they step forward into the next phase of their lives.
"It’s so important we continue to celebrate our youth as a community as they will undoubtedly inspire others."
"ILT values the important contribution that our youth make towards our vision of a vibrant Invercargill, and we take pride in our longstanding commitment to support youth, through initiatives like the Youthmark Awards," he said.
"We’re thrilled to be involved in celebrating some of the region’s high achievers, recognising that while each one shines individually, their collective impact is tremendous."
He wanted to acknowledge the schools for their unwavering dedication and their support to the success of these outstanding pupils.
Photographing such a vast collection of images was a great experience for Adcock, who has succeeded Shelley Clark after a 30-year involvement in the initiative.
"This assignment really did have it all — from clay target shooting to science labs and even crouching in the corner of a squash court trying not to get hit by the ball. I’ve loved the challenge."
Tahla Ward (Aparima College), Lauren Daley-McGregor, Hakopa Thomas (Aurora College), Elizabeth Lamb (Blue Mountain College), Brooke Anderson, Trey Anderson-Kereti, Archie Bryan, Edward Horrell, Grace Watson (Central Southland College), Nicole Green, Josh Ruddenklau (Fiordland College), Harry Lyall, Mackenzie Napier, Ailish Wilson (Gore High School), James Bath, Ruby Bath, Sean Bath, Lydia Blomfield, Meadow Bodkin-Allen, Marshall Erwood, Conrad Clark, Benjamin Elder, Ingamar Siegruhn, Levi Stout, Holly Cunliffe, Ryder Mikkelsen (James Hargest College), Sophie Ferguson, Hunter Richards (Menzies College), Makenzie Appleyard-Drake (Northern Southland College), Zoe Anderson, Charliese Erskine, Jade Hamilton, Harri Pickett, Kennedy Taylor, Caitlyn Wallace (Southland Girls’ High School), Nick Brown, Ruairidh MacCallum, Oshadha Perera, Gregor Rutledge, Matthew Smith, Fraser Wilson (Southland Boys’ High School), Dixie-Leigh Burr, Mary Salvana (St Peter’s College:), James Edwin (Te Wharekura O Arowhenua), Isobel Andres, Kayla Barker, Kate McGregor, Sophie Quill, Leo Shaw (Verdon College) and Alyssa Harding (Waiau Area School).
The exhibition will be on display at the Ascot Park Hotel until November 1.
