This year Kemp participated in the EIT trades programme, and completed the Infrastructure Works Civil Construction Level 2 certificate as well as NCEA level 1 and 2, Tapara said.
She said she was "ecstatic" when she found out in October that Kemp was receiving the award.
But they kept the award a secret until the end of year prizegiving.
"We were just sitting there and our principal announced it and 'woah' I won it," Kemp said.
His whānau were "stoked as" when they saw him receive the award.
Seeing his and his family's reaction when he received the award was "priceless," Tapara said.
The award also comes with $2000 prizemoney to be used at the student's discretion, and Kemp is planning on using the money to pay for his father's motorcycle repairs.
It's the first Prime Minister's Vocational Excellence Award the school has received, so Tapara says it has set a level for the boys who she hopes will see it as something they can work to achieve.
Started as a charter school in 2017, the academy is now a special character school.
Aimed at developing the character, work ethic and belief of the boys it provides education in a practical and hands-on way at the student's pace.
The majority of the students come from backgrounds where they haven't had positive experiences in mainstream schools Tapara said.
With an aspiration to be a mechanic in the future, she says he came to the school with a purpose.
Kemp said he started at the academy in 2020 wanting "something different" after his previous schooling.
Now he loves it so much that he is "trying to hustle all the other boys here now cause it's worth it".
Tapara said a number of boys have joined the academy because of Kemp's testimony and experience.
Next year Kemp will be continuing at the academy working towards level 3 and University Entrance. He hopes to continue with EIT after his studies and hopefully get an apprenticeship.
