Murupara Area School Receives Funds from Award Winning Student Volunteer
The Junior School of the Murupara Area School has received a $250 donation from the winner of the 2013 TrustPower
Whakatane District Youth Community Spirit Award.
Samantha Duff from Murupara Area School was announced as winner of the Award, which recognises secondary school
students’ service to the school and the community. The Award is jointly run by TrustPower and the Whakatane Council and
is part of the TrustPower Whakatane Community Awards which were presented last night, Tuesday 27th August.
For winning the Award, Samantha received a framed certificate, a trophy and $250, with an additional $250 being donated
to an organisation of Samantha’s choice. She chose the Junior School of the Murupara Area School.
Mandy Bird, principal of Murupara Area School says Samantha’s donation will be used to purchase maths games for the
students of the Junior School.
“I am extremely proud of Samantha's achievements. As a past pupil of Murupara Primary School and Rangitahi College she
is now at Murupara Area School leading the way as a Year 13 student. Her personal attributes and disposition make her a
positive senior role model for all students at our school.
Samantha leads by example and helps students and teachers in the Junior School, so it is only fitting to use Samantha’s
donation towards something that she is so passionate about,” says Mandy Bird.
TrustPower Community Relations Coordinator Suzi Luff says the TrustPower Youth Community Spirit Award is a wonderful
opportunity to publicly acknowledge the work young people do to enrich their community.
“Often young people receive a lot of negative attention and we forget the tremendous input that they provide to the
fabric of our community. Samantha is a great example of a student doing just that,” says Suzi.
“This impressive young lady has been instrumental in setting a positive tone amongst the senior student body and
bridging the gap between the junior and senior parts of this school.
Samantha has been appointed as one of the first Kai Arahi prefects, she’s part of the student council and she is also a
house captain. She coaches a Year 5 and 6 netball team and assists with the Year 7 team.
As part of a ‘High Impact Project’ called Tiaki Kura, Samantha works with a small group of students between Year 1 and 6
who are struggling with their class work. And it’s this role that she takes up every Friday which sees her make an
inspiring difference.
Samantha is also well known in the community for her support of netball and local marae.
With someone like Samantha leading by example, the youth of Murupara have a great role model to look up to and the
community benefits in so many ways. Well done Samantha!” says Suzi.
ENDS