Spirit Awards

An annual award by Wellington Airport celebrating students from local colleges for service to school and community.

Wellington Airport's Spirit Award scholarships are presented to a Year 13 student from each of the five local colleges (Rongotai College, St Catherine’s College, St Patrick’s College, Scots College, and Wellington East Girls’ College). In 2024 we also welcomed Te Kura Kaupapa Māori o Nga Mokopuna (Seatoun) to the awards.

These awards recognise and celebrate students who have gone above and beyond to provide service to their school and community. Over the past 17 years 85 students have been acknowledged with the Award. The awards are presented at the Wellington Airport Regional Community Awards Dinner.

Spirit Awards 2024

The 2024 Spirit Award recipients are:

  • Angus Galloway - Rongotai College
  • Ashika Chander - St Catherine’s College
  • Mevan Herath - St Patrick’s College
  • Anuksa Pal - Scots College
  • Mihirangi Kohatu - Te Kura Kaupapa Māori o Nga Mokopuna
  • Lucy Thorburn - Wellington East Girls’ College

Angus Galloway - Rongotai College

Angus is a steadfast and reliable student leader from Rongotai College, serving in the prefect team, as lead member of Makerspace and a big contributor to the music programme. He has been part of the schools’ Enviro Club on a mission to create change in our community and a more sustainable future. He has helped develop the schools’ recycling programme and construction of a school garden and greenhouse. Angus is a senior leader of the Interact service club volunteering for the benefit of the community. Angus has been a youth representative for Rongotai College at the WLG Community & Environment Trust reporting roundtable session.

Ashika Chander - St Catherine’s College

Ashika Chander is an engaged student leader of St Catherine’s College in the role of Community co-captain and member of the Mercy Crew and Environment Committee. She organises the weekly Community Breakfast and community activities and fundraisers. A member of the Wellington City Youth Council she was involved in writing a long-term plan submission on respecting Te Ao Māori as a city, and she led on a mock submission project to shine a light on Unhealthy Homes and their role in childhood respiratory diseases. Ashika is very active in her cultural community through the Devbhoomi Association of New Zealand and the Wellington Indian Association, supporting events and embracing cultural opportunities.

Mevan Herath - St Patrick’s College

Mevan is a dedicated student leader from St Patrick’s College in the role of Manu Taupua, a member of the Service Committee and academic tutor. In addition to his strong academic performance, Mevan is a talented musician and competed in the schools’ winning O’Shea Shield public speaking team. Mevan is described as a service oriented, reliable contributor to his school and community. He is always there working behind the scenes at events and fundraisers whether is designing posters, playing music or selling sausages on the barbeque. He volunteers visiting rest homes and for community groups including St Vincent de Paul in the weekends.

Anuksa Pal - Scots College

Anuksa is a caring, community focused student leader from Scots College, holding the role of Service Prefect. She is a volunteer sports coach and tutors students at Lyall Bay School. Anuksa contributed over 500 hours volunteering for the community in a wide variety of ways that demonstrate her determination to make life better for people. This includes tree-planting, helping at the Soup Kitchen, baking for the homeless, supporting the companionship programmes at Rita Angus Retirement Village and writing letters for those who need a pick me up through the Letters against Isolation programme. Anuska also serves as a youth representative on the Seatoun Church Board.

Mihirangi Kohatu - Te Kura Kaupapa Māori o Nga Mokopuna

Mihirangi Kohatu is an energetic student leader and role model at Te Kura Kaupapa Māori o Nga Mokopuna balancing excellence in academic work and commitment to service and leadership. Mihirangi attained her PADI Open Water Diver Certificate to enable her to work alongside Mountains to Sea Wellington in the Love Rimurimu project. She has been involved in the kura’s seaweed plant-outs at the community site in Te Motu Kairangi. Mihirangi is a Te Aho o Whātonga Kapa Haka team member, guitarist for Mana Kuratahi, Evolve Youth Advisory group member and represented the kura at the at the Regional Senior Ngā Manu Kōrero speeches.

Lucy Thorburn - Wellington East Girls College

Lucy is a positive student leader from Wellington East Girls’ College who inspires others to get involved with enthusiasm and genuine passion. Through her role as an Enviro Club leader she was deeply involved in instigating and collaborating on a project to develop and ecologically restore a walking and biking track from Mt Victoria to the college to support active transport for the school and wider community. She has secured other opportunities for students to champion active transport including free bike lessons.