3 September 2012
Joint Winners Given For Youth Spirit Award
Emma Robinson from Taupo Nui-A-Tia College and Jessica Parker from Tauhara College have been named as joint winners of
the 2012 TrustPower Taupo Youth Community Spirit Award.
Run in partnership with the TrustPower Taupo District Community Awards, the TrustPower Youth Community Spirit Award
recognises secondary school students’ service to school and community. The Award is jointly run by TrustPower and the
Taupo District Council and will be presented at the TrustPower Taupo District Community Awards, on Monday 3 September at
the Great Lake Centre.
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 their school and the region.
Jessica Parker from Tauhara College contributes to every facet of school life whether it be in her role as Deputy Head Leader, in the performing arts, as a
peer support leader, house leader, school executive or the various school committees she is on.
But her reach doesn’t stop there – she spreads her love out into the community by involving herself in programmes to
raise awareness around cancer and the environment. She has been involved in the 40 hour famine and ‘Live Below the Line’
which is an organisation creating an awareness of poverty. Jessica contributes to the local community newspaper around
youth issues and is also involved in Duffy Books, Anzac Day memorials and the Waikato Regeneration Project. At her
church she is a senior leader in the ONEIGHTY Youth Group and is a part of the worship band, playing the piano. You may
often see Jessica singing at community events or at the Hospice here in Taupō. !
TrustPower Community Relations Representative Teresa Partridge says it is hard to know how Jessica also finds time to be
a top academic student – but she does.
“Her school describes her as a positive role model in all aspects of her life. She has very strong morals and core
values, is hardworking, highly motivated, committed and passionate, asking for nothing in return,” says Mrs Partridge.
Emma Parker from Taupō-Nui-A-Tia College is an impressive young lady who truly knows the value of community spirit. Emma is deputy house leader, a year 13 tutor
representative, a member of the senior executive committee and is on the school council. She is also the convenor of the
College Publicity Committee and is an editor of the TNT Times as well as being the Treasurer of the Zenith Club at
school.
Out in the community Emma has volunteered her time to teach hip hop at Leanne Short’s School of dance, at Taupō Primary,
Mt View Primary and at St Patricks School. She also co-choreographed Taupō Intermediate’s J Rock Dance Performance
earlier this year. She has been an assistant photographer for the 2011 ironman competition and often takes photos for
numerous school events. This talent has seen both her photos and stories she has written in the local Taupō Times as
well. She has also acted on a voluntary basis at various museum exhibition openings.
TrustPower Community Relations Representative Teresa Partridge says like Jessica, Emma manages to do all of this while
maintaining excellent academic results
“Her school describes her as someone who shines the values of respect, kindness and consideration and is always willing
to serve,” says Mrs Partridge.
For winning the TrustPower Taupo Youth Community Spirit Award Jessica and Emma received a framed certificate and $500
prize money, with $250 going to them personally and $250 being given to a community group or organisation of their
choice, which will be announced at tonight’s Awards.
ENDS