House of Science Tauranga gets great ‘reaction’
House of Science Tauranga gets great ‘reaction’
House of Science Tauranga scooped the Supreme Award at the 2015 Trustpower Tauranga Community Awards last night.
The Awards were announced and presented last night (Monday, August 31) at the Tauranga Golf Club in front of almost 120 spectators, the majority of whom are also volunteers.
Representatives of House of Science Tauranga received, on behalf of their group, a framed certificate, a trophy and $1,500 in prize money. These folks also will have the opportunity to represent their region at the 2015 Trustpower National Community Awards, being held in Dunedin next March.
In total, Trustpower gave away over $5,000 to various community groups through the awards last night.
Trustpower Community
Relations Representative Jess Somerville says the House of
Science Tauranga is effectively a group of people passionate
about resourcing and connecting the local science
community.
“By enriching science education across the
Bay they hope to increase the number and quality of students
engaged with science. They achieve this by creating and
delivering fantastic resources to schools right across the
community, offering a tutoring service to students and
professional development courses for all
teachers.
“They also run a robotics club and popular
after school and holiday programmes for youth. These
opportunities to upskill are taken up by around 100 families
and 120 teachers per term.
“Behind the scenes of this
successful operation are 35 volunteers who, combined,
contribute around 500 hours a month. In fact it’s been so
successful that through no marketing, other branches of
House of Science have begun across the North Island”, says
Somerville.
Tauranga City Mayor Stuart Crosby says
House of Science Tauranga are inspiring future leaders in an
industry calling out for more qualified
professionals.
“House of Science Tauranga is a really
unique model that is producing remarkable results across the
Bay. It’s wonderful to be able to acknowledge the
committed volunteers who make this all happen”, says Mayor
Crosby.
The competition for this year’s Awards was
strong with a solid 52 entries received.
Category Winners:
Heritage and Environment
Winner: Tauranga
Classic Flyers Volunteers
Health and Well
Being
Winner: Bay of Plenty District Health Board
volunteers
Runner-up: Bellyful Tauranga
Commendation: Brookfield Community Centre Services
Commendation: Papamoa Surf Lifesaving
Arts and
Culture
Winner: The Incubator
Runner-up: Volunteer
Western Bay of Plenty
Commendation: Bethlehem
Baptist Church
Sports and Leisure
Winner:
Otumoetai Swimming Club Committee
Runner-up: Mount
Maunganui Junior Football Club
Education and Child
Youth Development
Winner: TEDxTauranga
Runner-up:
Greerton Lions
Supreme Winner
House of
Science Tauranga
Youth Community Spirit
Award
Jacques Glover of Otumoetai College,
Winner
Sophie Shrimpton of Tauranga Girls’ College,
Finalist
Olivia Johnson of Mount Maunganui College,
Finalist
Danielle Mourits of Aquinas College,
Finalist
ENDS