Kaia Silva named Te Paepae o Aotea Taupaenui Dux for 2024

Te Paepae o Aotea 2024 Taupaenui Dux Kaia Silva (centre) with second in Year 13 Emilia Scott (right) and third Rosanna Wills.

Te Paepae o Aotea celebrated its top students at the school’s senior prizegiving on Wednesday, October 30.

Kaia Silva, 17, was awarded Taupaenui Dux. She said it was an honour to receive the award.

“I was incredibly nervous leading up to it and while I had confidence in myself, it wasn’t until they read my name that I could breathe a sigh of relief and happiness.”

She said she had always strived to do her best.

“However, it wasn’t until the end of last year that dux felt like an achievable goal. When looking at it from a Year 10 or even 11 point of view, it seems more like an unobtainable fantasy. This year I felt it was within my reach and worked incredibly hard to get myself to this point.”

Next year she is heading to the University of Auckland to study towards a Bachelor of Optometry.

“I am very excited to start this new chapter of my life and see what it will bring.”

Prizegiving results:

Supreme Awards: Taupaenui Dux: Kaia Silva, Arts / Cultural Student for 2024 – Dux Artium (Cultural Taupaenui Trophy): Erina Frearson. Sports Student of 2024 – Dux Ludorum (Sports Taupaenui Trophy): Elliot Wills, Supreme Aotea Trophy: Olivia Corrigan and Joel Soothill, Supreme Paepae Trophy: Cherie Chicherita, Mana Māori Aotea Trophy: Peyton Nelson, Mana Māori Paepae Trophy: Leo Kerehoma. Mana Māori Taupaenui Trophy: Taiharuru Ratima.

Taupaenui Overall Awards

Year 11: 1st Taiharuru Ratima, 2nd Lauren Kalin, 3rd Evita Morellon. Year 12: Liesa Hofstadler, 2nd Carlitos Morellon Anderson, 3rd Julia Scott. Year 13: 1st Kaia Silva, 2nd Emilia Scott, 3rd Rosanna Wills.

Player of the Year Awards: basketball men: Hauraki Erb; basketball women: Sofia Va’aelua, cricket: Theo Soothill, debating: Pagan Hira, football men:Thomas Towers, football womens: Jayda Sharp, hockey men: Mcallum Kalin, hockey women:Aliette Parsons; Ki-O-Rahi: Quincy Julian, netball: Peyton Nelson, rugby men: Jae Smith, senior A touch: Ranginui Cuthbert and Shai-Ann Kahu, volleyball: Mason Kempton.

Tama and Wahine Tu Kaha Awards: Kaitataki Tane of the Senior Kapa Haka Roopu: Te Koha Domb, Wahine of the Senior Kapa Haka Roopu: Peyton Nelson; Kahurere Ngeru.

High Achievement Awards: Lynette Morris Vocal Award: Shauri Lucando, Te Paepae o Aotea Music Awards: Matthew Finer. Employment Excellence Award: Tayne Rowlands-Katene, Ngāti Ruanui most Innovative Senior Māori Student: Jaxson Rae.

Sport Championship Awards: Athletic Champion - intermediate men: Carlitos Morellon Anderson, Athletic Champion – intermediate women Maddison Sturgeon, Athletic Champion – senior men: Campbell Wills, Athletic Champion – senior women: Emily Bird, Cross Country Champion – intermediate women: Maddison Sturgeon, Cross Country Champion – senior men: Carlitos Morellon Anderson, Cross Country Champion – senior women: Annja Petersen, Swimming Champion – intermediate men: Elliot Wills, Swimming Champion – intermediate women: Kaylee Tweeddale; Swimming Champion – senior men: Baxter Hunt; Swimming Champion – senior woman: Brooke Tweeddale, Te Paepae o Aotea Golf Champion: Divan Denton.