Congratulations to year 13 students, Georgia Hulls and Jack Warren who were both presented with Hastings Heretaunga Lions Club Young Achievers awards at a ceremony on Wednesday 25 October 2017.  
The aim of the awards is to promote the positive influence today’s youth has on our society through acknowledging and promoting their achievements to the wider community.  Selection is made by local secondary schools based on well-rounded year 13 students, who are excellent role models, and have achieved beyond expectation in one or more fields of endeavour, be these performing arts, sporting and cultural, alongside academic achievement.
Georgia, an athlete of the highest calibre, was part of the 4 x 400m and 4 x 100m relay team that set NZ records.  She gained top 14 world ratings for U18 100m and 200m events at World Youth Championships in 2015.  Georgia was awarded Athletics Athlete of the Year at the 2016 HB Secondary Schools’ Sports Awards.  This season, Georgia has won national titles in U20 400m and 4 x 400m relay.  She competed for NZ at the World Junior Championships in Poland, finishing 20th in the 200m event.  Georgia has represented NZ in Australia, Fiji, Europe, USA, Columbia and Cook Islands.  She is currently a member of the NZ Elite Women’s 4 x 100m relay, targeting qualification for the 2020 Tokyo Olympics.  Georgia intends to study either a business or science degree at AUT next year whilst training for the World Junior Championships in Finland.
Jack is a highly-accomplished actor and scholar.  He has received the Best Actor Award at the regional TheatreFest finals and was part of the Shakespearian group who were awarded Best Technical Production at the National Festival.  Jack has developed his talent through involvement with HABYT theatre company and school productions.  Jack toured Australia with HABYT, performing to audiences around Brisbane and the Gold Coast.  He will tour Australia again and was an ambassador alumni for the HB Arts Festival.  Jack has taken on lead roles in school productions and has been a committed chorister in award-winning choirs – Future Prospect and Colla Voce.  Jack is completing his Gold Duke of Edinburgh and will be attempting Scholarship examinations in three subjects.  Jack will be auditioning for Toi Whakaari with the hope of being accepted into the Bachelor of Performing Arts Programme for 2018.