Young Volunteers Recognised

13 May 2013

Young Volunteers Recognised

Thea James from Aquinas College has been named as the winner of the TrustPower Tauranga Youth Community Award.

The Award was presented at the TrustPower Tauranga Community Awards held tonight (Monday 13 May) at ASB Arena, Baypark.

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

Local high schools were asked to recommend one student to be considered for the Award. The Finalists were Dylan Donne from Tauranga Boys’ College, Carinda Reyneke from Bethlehem College and Kristen Vanderschantz from Tauranga Girls’ College.

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 Tauranga region.

TrustPower Community Relations Representative Teresa Partridge says Thea is an outstanding young woman who truly knows the value of community spirit. Throughout her years at Aquinas College Thea has been a peer mentor, a member of the Senior Young Vinnies, a part of the SADD Committee, the Environment Committee, the Special Character Committee and helped organise an art competition to promote responsible drinking and bring awareness of the harm alcohol can cause.

“It is in the community, with her volunteering for horses that sees Thea really shine! Thea volunteers for Tauranga Riding for the Disabled every Saturday morning and Wednesday afternoon. She also volunteers every school holidays with the ‘Own Your Own Pony’ children’s holiday programme.

Thea loves giving so much that every Saturday afternoon she also volunteers at Trinity Valley Farms and helps with their holiday programme.

On top of all of this Thea presents at local Rotary meeting and Lions Club dinners to promote Tauranga Riding for the Disabled and the amazing work they do.

Thea is clearly an impressive young lady with an exciting future ahead” says Mrs Partridge.

For winning the Award Thea will receive a framed certificate and $500 prize money, with $250 being given to a community group or organisation of her choice. We will find this organisation out at the TrustPower Tauranga Community Awards.

ENDS

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