The OneChance Youth Awards aims to celebrate excellence in youth (aged 15 to 24) achievements or service to the community.
Chantelle Cobby, 18, who won the Supreme Youth Leader of the Year award, said she was "totally shocked".
"It was a huge surprise. Immediately I felt really grateful and honoured. It was a really nice surprise."
The prize for the award was a $500 cheque, custom-made trophy and a pounamu greenstone, she said.
She said she had not decided what she would use the $500 for, but would probably put it towards her studies.
Miss Cobby said she thought the awards were awesome because they were broad based and recognised all sorts of achievers.
"I think the fact it was organised and run by youth was so special as."
She said she was glad they were planning to keep doing the awards because it was a great initiative.
It was an incredible night and the youth did a good job putting the awards on, she said.
She is currently studying a Bachelor of Communications, majoring in leadership communication, at Waikato University.
OneChance Youth Project chief enthusiast Alan Solomon said the response was absolutely overwhelming and they had 40 different community trusts and businesses get on board with sponsorship and support.
"It was a huge community input and effort which we are so grateful for. Without them it wouldn't have been such an amazing night."
The awards night went brilliantly and the OneChance Youth Project team were really happy, he said.
Mr Solomon said all the event's tickets were snapped up three weeks beforehand and there would have been close to 400 people who attended.
"It was really honouring to know there are so many amazing young people out there."
He said they were looking forward to making the awards become an annual event, and what was exciting was a lot of the sponsors said they were looking forward to the next event too.
Winners:
Chris Bell Dental Most Outstanding Youth Performance Group
Raukura Kapa Haka Group
Sir Howard Morrison Performing Arts Centre Most Outstanding Youth Performer
Adrian Forbes 18, musician
New Zealand Maori Arts & Crafts Institute Most Amazing Youth Visual Artist
Kathleen Ashley 19, costume design
FLAVA Most Outstanding Sports Team
John Paul College 1st XV Rugby Team
Rotorua Lakes Council Sport and Recreation Portfolio Most Outstanding Sports Athlete
Anaseini Nagera 16, swimming
Elite Adventures Most Outstanding Youth Employee
Hone Morris 17, Fordlands Community Centre youth co-ordinator
Rothbury Insurance Most Outstanding Community Youth Ambassador
Pita Helu 17
Rotary Rotorua North Youth Services Icon Award
Maylene Meroiti - services to netball
Industry Training Solutions 'X-Factor' People's Choice Award
Anahera Teinakore-Curtis with 558 online votes
Te Wananga o Aotearoa Most Awesome Youth of the Year
Kesia Mary Kurian 17
Rotorua Multicultural Council Youth Cultural Leader of the Year
Eamon Walsh 17
Toi-Ohomai Institute of Technology Supreme Youth Leader of the Year
Chantelle Cobby 18
