"I like making things like sculptures and I love model-making, so I'm really buzzing out still," Mr Dewes said.
"I'm just really excited about working there, just can't wait to get to Wellington and do the work."
The award recognises a student who has demonstrated a level of significant creativity in the arts or has applied creative thinking to solve a problem within the community.
Mr Dewes, whose island roots stem from Tonga, Tuvalu and Rotuma, has a bachelor of fine arts degree from the University of Auckland's Elam School of Fine Arts.
His work has featured in several exhibitions around the Auckland area, including at the Fresh Gallery, ArtSpace and one held for Youthline.
He works at Glasshammer Studios, based in West Auckland, which specialises in model-making for the television and film industry.
JOYCE TOLEAFOA: FROM HELPING MUM TO HELPING YOUNG PEOPLE
Joyce Toleafoa's father died when she was just 15 years old and she knew she had to secure a part-time job to help her mother out.
The teenager got a job at Pak'n'Save near the family's home in Manukau and she still works there to help her mother make ends meet.
Now 19, Joyce Toleafoa is one of three people to receive this year's Inspiration Award, which acknowledges young people who have acted in a way that has inspired others in their community.
Ms Toleafoa, who grew up in Otara, is studying towards a bachelor of education degree majoring in teaching and is specialising in primary school education.
She chose the field solely because she wants to help young people.
"I'm passionate about teaching, and knowing that I can have a positive effect on a person's life is what gets me."
Ms Toleafoa said she hoped to visit other countries and find out how educational systems work in other cultures and communities.
"I'd like to go to somewhere like China and see [what] their primary school system is like," she said.
"And then I want to come back and maybe use some of the techniques I've learned from those places to make a difference to the children I teach here."
JESSICA PAPALI'I CURTIN: MAKING A DIFFERENCE WITH MEDICINE
Jessica Papali'i-Curtin says she hopes the award she has received will ultimately help her to help others.
The 25-year-old, originally from Wellington, is one of three people to win this year's Inspiration Award, which recognises young people who have acted in a way that has inspired others to make a positive change.
She has won an overseas trip worth $5000.
Ms Papali'i-Curtin has a bachelor of arts degree majoring in psychology and Maori studies. She is in her final year of study for a degree in medicine and hopes to train as a general practitioner.
For the past two years, she has been a volunteer at the Bethany Centre, a Grey Lynn home for young women who are pregnant.
She says although she does not know where she will be going for her trip, she hopes that her medical skills will be of use to the people she will meet.
"When I applied for the award, I said that I think I would like to go somewhere in the Pacific Islands and look at their health issues," Ms Papali'i-Curtin said.
"I want to inspire young people not only here but also in the islands.
"I want them to look at health-related careers and making a difference to someone else's world through medicine."
CAMERON HOARE: TEENAGER REACHES FOR THE SKIES
Most people Cameron Hoare's age would be busy learning the road code to get their car licence.
But the part-Niuean 17-year-old has been training to get another type of licence - his pilot's one.
The Christchurch high school student is the recipient of this year's Innovation Award.
Sponsored by Air New Zealand, the award recognises a young person who has shown innovative, thought or action to solve an engineering challenge to help their community.
Mr Hoare receives $7400 worth of tuition for entry into the Air New Zealand Aviation Institute's 32-week first year pre-employment aircraft maintenance training programme.
"Flying's been my passion all my life. I got taken to an airshow when I was younger and when I saw what man could do in the sky, I wanted to do that."
Mr Hoare recently qualified to become a glider pilot and is training to get his private pilot's licence. He plans to become a commercial pilot.
NADEEN PAPALI'I: 'SAMOAN GIRL FROM OTARA' SEES WAY TO TOP
An open day to the country's top university is what ultimately led Nadeen Papali'i to seek a career in engineering.
And now she is hoping that her new scholarship will take her even further.
The 22-year-old from Otara is this year's recipient of the University of Auckland Leadership Award recognising someone who has shown leadership and motivated others.
Ms Papali'i is the first Pasifika engineering student to complete a year of study abroad, at the University of Manchester in England.
She will receive $6000 a year while studying for a master's degree in engineering.
Next month, she will graduate with a bachelor of engineering degree majoring in chemical and materials engineering.
Ms Papali'i plans to continue her studies to doctorate level and is looking at studying and investigating waste water treatment practices around the world.
"I want to look at waste water treatment practices in places like Nepal, Samoa and Singapore and here in New Zealand."
She hopes her award will encourage other young people to believe in themselves and to seek the heights.
"I'm a Samoan girl from Otara," Ms Papali'i says."My success is against what people think of this place and I want kids from Otara to see me and think, 'I can do it too'."
BRANDON JACKSON: INSPIRING OTHERS IN THE COMMUNITY
Growing up in what is stereotypically known as a rough neighbourhood is what led Brandon Jackson to better himself.
The 22-year-old, a former student of Tangaroa College in Otara, is a recipient of the Inspiration Award, recognising someone who has acted in a way that has inspired others.
Mr Jackson, who is part Niuean and Samoan, is studying towards a bachelor of human services degree at the University of Auckland. He is a youth leader and a member of the uni's Niuean Students Association.
He says being named a recipient of the award was mind-blowing.
"I couldn't get over it when I got the call. I was like, 'Are you for real?' I thought it was a joke.
"Coming from Otara, I grew up in a tough place. But I managed to stay away from that stuff, the drugs, gangs. I just wanted to not be that stereotype, so I chose university."
Mr Jackson plans to do youth work in Otara. "I want to work with schools, just to give back to the community. I want to share my story. I'm just like them and it was hard but it is possible."
