Oksana Voznyuk - recipient of the RSA Peace Scholarship for contribution, service and leadership; General Excellence Cup and AG Freeman Medal for Dux Litterarum.
Oksana Voznyuk - recipient of the RSA Peace Scholarship for contribution, service and leadership; General Excellence Cup and AG Freeman Medal for Dux Litterarum.
The outstanding Te Awamutu College student for 2020 is Oksana Voznyuk – taking away three of the major awards, including the General Excellence Cup and AG Freeman medal for Dux Litterarum.
Oksana was first in subject in drama, English extension and earth and space science. She also takes calculus and art – painting, and has already attained NCEA Level 3, gaining all 89 credits she has attempted so far this year, all at excellence level. Last year Oksana gained NCEA Level 3 chemistry, also with excellence.
Oksana Voznyuk - recipient of the RSA Peace Scholarship for contribution, service and leadership; General Excellence Cup and AG Freeman Medal for Dux Litterarum.
During senior prizegiving on Thursday she was also presented with the Senior English Essay Cup, The Owen Joyce Cup for Contribution to Music, The Emma Award for the Arts for outstanding achievement, contribution and leadership in drama and the University of Auckland Top Achiever Scholarship valued at $20,000.
As part of the student leadership team, Oksana was congratulated for her part in leading students of Te Awamutu College through a difficult year.
She was an integral part of a great team, helping plan and run assemblies and she was the driving force for the successful Anzac Day online message. She was also a fine ambassador for the school at Te Awamutu Intermediate and on open days.
Oksana was further recognised by being presented with the RSA Peace Scholarship for contribution, service and leadership, and the General Excellence Cup, for academic, sports, culture, participation and service.
Her participation, service and leadership in her time at the College has been extensive right from 2016 as a Year 9 student. She immediately became involved with the SADD Committee, Support Act, Senior Band and school production.
Te Awamutu College official party, including from left: principal Tony Membery, Waipa mayor Jim Mylchreest and Board of Trustees chairman Craig Yarndley.
An accomplished flautist, Oksana has been with Senior Band for five years.
Her contribution to school committees has been outstanding - five years in SADD, three years in Health, two years in Diversity and two years in Culture. Oksana was chair of the Culture Committee this year and under her capable leadership they planned and prepared for the annual Talent Quest.
She has been a caring and committed Keep Cool Mentor for 2019 and 2020 – working with Year 9 mentees.
Principal Tony Membery said Oksana is passionate about people and various causes and issues.
"She has been a great role model and given great service and leadership to the College," he said.
Oksana's achievements are more notable because of her other commitments outside school.
She held a part-time job with the Kidzone childcare programme, working before and after school and during school holidays, and is a private piano tutor.
Oksana is attending Auckland University from next year to undertake a bachelor of Advanced Science for Psychology to eventually become a clinical psychologist.
She says she has been interested in people's behaviours and how the mind works for a number of years.
"Being a Keep Cool mentor has helped my understanding of what it will be like to work with and help people," she says.
She also hopes to become highly involved in university life.
"I was to continue playing flute with a symphonic band and keep up my love of drama," she says.
