Rotary Young Achievers 2018

Dixie-Leigh Burr
Dixie-Leigh is an outstanding all-round student.  Her diverse talents, combined with her strong work ethic and determination enable her to achieve excellent results in a range of areas.
Dixie-Leigh consistently achieves to a high level across all curriculum areas.  In 2017, she was placed first in class for English, Physical Education and Health, Visual Arts and Foods and Textiles Technology.  As a result, she received a diligence award for her consistent efforts.  Last year she attended the Greenstone Carving Reap Course and also represented St Peter’s College in the Southland SMAC Maths Competition in Invercargill. 
Sport is another area where Dixie-Leigh truly excels.    On a wintry Southland Saturday morning Dixie-Leigh can be found at the MLT Stadium.  She enjoys netball having played in the 7A and 8A netball teams for our College and in 2017 was rewarded for her efforts by being named the Most Valuable Player in the winning team.  She was also selected to represent Eastern Southland for the representative season.  Dixie willingly shares her talents co-coaching a Year 1 and 2 netball team.
Dixie-Leigh plays rugby and is the goal kicker for the Under 15 school team.  This year she was named their Most Valuable Player.  Her leadership talents do not go unnoticed as she is the captain but also the youngest player in the team. This year the team gained a creditable 6th placing at the Highlanders’ Otago/Southland Regional Tournament and were lucky enough to play a curtain raiser for this provincial team.   In addition to this, Dixie-Leigh has represented Southland in touch rugby for the last three years.  She was fortunate to be asked to play up an age group for the Southland Under 14 team which successfully competed in the South Island Tournament in Christchurch, gaining fourth place. 
Dixie-Leigh is a natural presenter and last year gained first place in the Eastern Southland Speech Competition and went on to compete in the finals.   Dixie is fluent in Te Reo Maori and is one of the few Tuakana chosen at St Peter’s College to lead the Kapa Haka group encouraging others. 
Dixie-Leigh has been nominated by her peers and staff for leadership courses and in 2017 was one of two chosen to be our school’s Spirit of a Nation representative.  The teaching staff admire the excellent leadership qualities she displays both in class and in the wider school community and her ability to organise and achieve so much in a range of fields.  One of Dixie-Leigh’s great strengths is her enthusiastic nature and this quality is widely recognised by her peers and staff alike.
We are proud to acknowledge Dixie-Leigh as a Rotary Young Achiever for St Peter’s College.  Her range of talents make her a very valued member of the St Peter’s College community.  She lives out our school values of commitment, community and compassion in her daily school life.
 
Louisa Kotkamp
Louisa is very committed to her schoolwork and teachers readily acknowledge her meticulousness and considerable effort she puts in to achieve the best possible results. A keen and conscientious student, in 2017 Louisa received prizes for first in Physical Education and Music and received a Diligence Award.  She immerses herself fully in our school community participating in all aspects of school life.  She enjoys taking part and achieving well in ICAS Maths and Science competitions and Great Kiwi quizzes. 
Louisa has achieved considerable success in the sporting arena, representing our local area and province in a number of different sporting codes.  She plays hockey and in 2017 and 2018 played in the Eastern Southland Collier Hockey Team.  Having our sporting arenas very close by in Gore certainly helps Louisa and her family as she also plays netball and this is only a stone’s throw away from the hockey turf.  In 2017 she represented Eastern Southland and this year played for the St Peter’s College 8A team where she was named the Most Valuable Player. 
Louisa certainly likes to keep herself very busy.  She is our current school cross country champion and for her two years at St Peter’s she has either been the athletics champion or the runner-up. Louisa competes well at the Eastern Southland Athletics meets gaining placings in long jump, 1500m, nerf throw and the relay.  Louisa went on in 2017 to compete at the Southland Primary School Athletics Competition gaining a creditable third and fourth placing in nerf throwing and 1500m respectively.  Of course when someone excels at sport it is likely that a summer sport also features.  Louisa plays cricket and has represented the province in the Southland Under 15 Team and the Southland Secondary Schools’ Cricket Team for the last two years.  She also played for the Otago Districts’ Primary School Team. 

Louisa is a very articulate young lady, gaining second place in the first round of the local Speech competitions and is a valued member of the Year Eight Debating team that made it into the local finals.  Although it is hard to imagine Louisa fitting much else into her busy schedule, she also learns flute and is the current Gore Out of School Senior Flute Champion.  Jazz is one of Louisa’s preferred styles of dance and she has gained honours with distinction for two years running.   A compelling entertainer, she competes in our annual Eisteddfod competition and this year was the Junior Joint Champion gaining a number of placings in the instrumental, poetry, dance, expressive reading, scripture and speech sections.  Regular busking and voluntarily playing the flute at Christmas functions shows Louisa is willing to share her gifts and talents with others.
Students and staff recognise Louisa’s leadership qualities and hence she was nominated to attend a leadership course this year.  Louisa is an outstanding Young Achiever, and her commitment and determination to succeed certainly epitomize the values we hold here at St Peter’s College.  We are proud to acknowledge Louisa as our Rotary Young Achiever.
 
Fraser Wilson
Fraser has achieved considerable success in the sporting arena.  During his first two years at St Peter’s College Fraser has showcased his exceptional talent by competing successfully at local and regional and levels.
Fraser has played both rugby and touch rugby for St Peter’s College in 2017 and 2018. However, rugby is where he has received the most accolades.  This year he was named Captain and Most Valuable Player for his school team.  In recognition of his ability, Fraser was selected for Eastern Southland in both 2017 and 2018 and this year he captained the Eastern Southland Under 48 kg Team and here too was named Most Valuable Player. Fraser’s skill level and leadership were quickly recognised as he was drafted into the Southland Under 48 kg Team where he again had the honour of being Captain for the representative season.
Winter is a very busy season for Fraser as hockey is another discipline where he has gained recognition.  He plays in the Eastern Division Four Royal Team and this year was rewarded for his efforts by being named the Most Valuable Player whilst captaining the side.  In 2017 and 2018 Fraser was selected for the Southland Hatch Cup Hockey Team.
Although it is hard to imagine Fraser fitting much else into his busy schedule, he also excels in Athletics, particularly in the throwing events.  He competes and gains placings in shotput and discus at the local Eastern Athletics Competition and also managed a fourth placing in the 1500 m, which showed his versatility.  Fraser was the St Peter’s College runner-up Under 13 Boys Athletics Champion this year. 
Fraser also enjoys Cross Country and triathlons.  He was the first individual boy to cross the line in the Eastern Southland Primary Triathlon in 2017 and this year was placed second in the St Peter’s College Year 8 Boys’ Cross County event.
On a lighter note, Fraser surprised us this year with a marvellous entertainment skit, which saw him take out the Junior Entertainment section of our school Eisteddfod.  His item was a crowd favourite and certainly gave us an insight into the talent this young man possesses.  He also performed well at this cultural event with a first in poetry and second placings in impromptu and prepared speech.
Students and staff recognise Fraser’s leadership qualities and this year he was nominated for a leadership course, and is one of the two Year Eight representatives on the school Council.  He willingly shares his gifts and talents and has coached a Year 1 and 2 Small Sticks hockey team this year.
A very likeable young man, Fraser is an outstanding Young Achiever.  His commitment and determination to succeed certainly epitomize the values we hold at St Peter’s College. 
We are proud to acknowledge Fraser as a Rotary Young Achiever for St Peter’s College.