KEY POINTS:
"One day," wrote young student Maris O'Rourke, "I want to be one of the top educators in the world."
It is perhaps not the most common dream among university students but, 30 years after scribbling that statement on a scrap of paper in the library, Dr O'Rourke can say it has come true.
Last night, she was one of five graduates honoured with a University of Auckland Distinguished Alumni Award.
The others were Professor Judith Binney, a historian; Professor Terry Collins, a world leader in the field of green chemistry and sustainability; Dr Peter Watson, public servant, international businessman and author, and novelist, poet and art critic Ian Wedde.
World champion rower - and last week's Halberg Supreme Award winner - Mahe Drysdale is also being honoured by his alma mater, named the Young Alumnus of the Year for 2007.
The annual awards honour those who have made outstanding contributions to their professions, communities and to the nation.
Dr O'Rourke, who was born in Scotland but found her "spiritual homeland" when she came to New Zealand at 19, was one of the architects of education reform here.
She was secretary for education and chief executive of the Education Ministry under Prime Minister David Lange and Education Ministers Phil Goff and Lockwood Smith.
From 1995 to 2001, she was director of education for the World Bank.
She works today as an international education consultant.
