Media release, for immediate release, Wednesday 1 September

Paul Horne Wins Palmerston North Youth Spirit Award

Paul Horne from Palmerston North Boys’ High School has been named the winner of the TrustPower Youth Community Spirit Award.

Run in conjunction with the TrustPower Palmerston North Community Awards, the TrustPower Youth Community Spirit Award recognises secondary school students’ service to the school and the community. The Award is jointly run by TrustPower and the Palmerston North City Council.

The six high schools in Palmerston North city were each asked to recommend one student to be considered for the Award. Phway Aye, Head Girl of Palmerston North Girls’ High School was the finalist for the Youth Community Spirit Award.
To be considered for the TrustPower Youth Community Spirit Award students had to have given service to school or community projects, treated others with care and respect and been a good ambassador for the school and the region.

Paul is school prefect and a mentor to a class of year 10 students. He was instrumental in setting up and leading a environment club at his school and leading a school-wide paper recycling scheme.

Outside of school, Paul has lead students in projects to develop a wetland at the Kahuterawa Bush Remnant and to install an interpretive tree trail at the Ashhurst Domain.

In addition to these activities, Paul volunteered at the Palmerston North City library for 18 months and he umpired weekly games for Hockey Manawatu for three years.

TrustPower Community Relations Representative Suzi Luff says Paul is an outstanding student who is giving of his time and efforts for the good of his school and wider community.

“Paul is very passionate about the environment and so he works hard to raise the awareness of environmental issues by getting involved in a number of projects both within his school and his community.

For winning the Award, Paul receive a framed certificate and $500 prize money, with $250 going to Paul personally and $250 being given to a community group or organisation of his choice.

The TrustPower Youth Community Spirit Award was presented at the TrustPower Community Awards, held on Tuesday 31 August, where Paul's mother Margaret Horne announced that Kahuterawa Bush Remnant Group was to receive the $250 donation from Paul.

ends

© Scoop Media