Western News: May 18, 2023

Thursday May 18 2023 5
Decathlon a first
TEAMS OF eight students from
schools across the city tackled
10 disciplines in New Zealand’s
first Da Vinci Decathlon, an
academic challenge for Years
9–11.
Students undertook challenges
in mathematics, cartography,
english, science, code breaking,
art and poetry, ideation, engineering,
creative producing and
legacy.
Hosted by Christ College, the
event required a collaborative
approach that drew together individual
skills, challenging agile
minds and quick thinkers.
In the senior contest, Christ’s
College Year 11 team took
top spot (Samuel Bennett,
Aaron Kwak, James Hadden,
Jack Hastie, Tomas Coberger,
Edward Elworthy, David Wayne,
and Daniel Wilson), with
Burnside High School second
(Sam Allen, Thomas Brocherie,
Chloe Chan, Katie Horton,
Margarita Konstantinova,
Aryan Raut, Katherine Watts,
and Andrew Wu).
Hornby High School. Back row: L-R James Louish, Jodecey
Puia, Axle Briggs-Sangalang. Front wow: Tony Palmer,
Mayor Phil Mauger, Sidney Matthews, Edward Coffin,
Emma Brown (Duke of Edinburgh Award NZ), Chris Allan
(Joshua Foundation).
Middleton Grange School. Back row: Annabelle Gracey,
Olivia Cooper, Tahlia Pellow, Mike Van Ort (principal),
Brooke Smith. Front row: Phil Mauger, Meg Renault,
William Lewis, Emma Brown, Chris Allan.
Students
receive
Duke of
Edinburgh
awards
SXITY-FIVE young people from
throughout Canterbury have
received The Duke of Edinburgh’s
Hillary Award at a ceremony at
the city council’s civic offices.
On May 8, the bronze, silver
and gold awards were presented
by Mayor Phil Mauger.
The students worked with Chris
Allan from the Joshua Foundation
to achieve the awards.
They clocked up more than
2000 hours of voluntary service
within their community, developed
a new skill and become
physically active, engaging in
both team sports and individual
pursuits.
Mauger said: “The Duke of
Edinburgh’s Hillary Award
ceremonies are always significant
occasions, as we proudly celebrate
Ōtautahi rangatahi who have
embraced the challenge of the
award, risen to every occasion,
and achieved success along each
step of the journey.”
This year marks 60 years of
the award in New Zealand,
during which time over 275,000
young people have participated,
supported by thousands of
volunteers.