Junior High School Dux 2024

The premiere academic award – the Junior High School Dux – is awarded to the student who has the highest overall academic achievement. This year’s Junior High School Dux award goes to Ada Findlow.

Ada receives this award for being the top academic student in the Junior High School where at this prize giving alone she has received Academic Honours and several class prizes.

Her teachers appreciate her enthusiastic approach to her classroom work, the boldness of her contributions to discussion and her positive impact on the classroom dynamic. She models the Learner Profile in every respect.  Ada is a young woman who cannot stand still. In her spare time she is part of the school orienteering and rowing teams, plays lacrosse and represents NZ in orienteering. She has also completed her Duke of Edinburgh Silver award as a Year 10 which is some feat. Ada has set herself a challenging programme for next year when she is entered into several level 2 subjects to prepare herself for the Diploma in 2026.

Sports Award 2024

• Year 7: Catherine Li has had exceptional success in both Water Polo and swimming for 2024. Catherine won a bronze medal for 100m Breaststroke for her age group while also competing with the Year 7 and 8 Water Polo team at the AIMS games who won bronze. Two bronze medals in two different codes is an exceptional achievement for Catherine and we are excited to see Catherine progress with sport at Dio.
• Year 8: Sina-Maria Su’a has had another remarkable year in athletics, excelling in shot put and discus. Her phenomenal talent and dedication have seen her break records time and time again, including holding current age-group world records. Sina-Maria continues to outdo herself, surpassing even the outstanding distances she set in 2023. In every event she has competed in this year, Sina-Maria has dominated the field, winning by exceptional margins and even surpassing distances achieved by older age-group record holders. Her hard work, determination, and passion for her sport are unmatched, and she is undoubtedly set for a bright and extraordinary future in athletics.
• Year 9 (joint): Henrietta Yarrell-Stevenson is an exceptional athlete in Water Polo, Swimming and Netball. Henrietta competed in the year 9 & 10 A Water Polo team at the end of 2023 and earned the Most Valuable Player award for the tournament as a year 8 student. Henrietta also competed in the Diocesan Premier Water Polo team earlier this year and contributed significantly to the team in and out of the pool. Henrietta also was selected to play in the Under 15 New Zealand Water Polo team that competed at the Australian State Championships and won a bronze medal. Henrietta also made several National qualifying times for swimming and represented Dio at the NZSS Championships.
• Year 9 (joint): Teresa Wang has had quite the year! As we know Golf is an extremely demanding sport, requiring not only technical precision but also exceptional mental strength to remain calm under pressure. Some of Teresa’s highlights include a 5th place finish at the FCG Callaway World Championship and the incredible first-place finish at the NZ National Age Group Championship and her victory in the NZ Secondary School individual event—as a Year 9 student!
• Year 10 (joint): Louella Chabal-T has achieved remarkable success in 2024, securing 1st place at the College Sport Gymsport Championships, 3rd at the New Zealand Secondary Schools Rhythmic Gymnastics competition, and 1st at Nationals. Her impressive performances have also earned her the privilege of being selected to represent New Zealand in Toronto, Canada, in April 2025. We look forward to seeing Louella on the international stage.
• Year 10 (joint): Indie Williams exemplifies excellence and commitment, inspiring her peers across multiple sports at Diocesan. Competing in Cross Country, Road Racing, Athletics, Triathlon, Aquathon, Duathlon, Cycling, and Water Polo, she achieved remarkable results in 2024, including multiple 1st place NZSS National Titles and top finishes at both regional and national levels. Her contributions have led to numerous individual and team victories. Her determination, hard work, and continuous drive for improvement make her truly deserving of this award.

The Junior High School Sportsperson of the Year

This year we had joint winners for the Junior High School Sportsperson of the Year Award. They are Bowie Wang and Maddie Worrall.

Bowie’s accomplishments in Fencing this year are extraordinary. Bowie has demonstrated her remarkable talent and dedication to the sport, by excelling in both Individual and Team events at School, Club, Regional, National and International level. Her impressive list of Fencing successes is considerable. Bowie’s achievements at the highest level make her a fencing prodigy with a bright future ahead and have earned her the Junior High School Sports Person of the Year Award.

Maddie has achieved significant milestones this year, including winning NZSS titles in distance running and earning NZ representation. In Cycling, she secured a gold medal in the TTT Championship at both the North Islands and Nationals. Her versatility is further highlighted by impressive results in both novice and junior rowing categories at key regattas, showcasing her ability to rise to challenges. Her dedication to personal goal-setting and relentless drive in training have been evident in her performances.

Arts Award 2024

• Year 7 (joint): Yolanda Zhang is part of the Diocesan Symphony and Chamber Orchestra, Virtuoso Voce, and an Aria and Concerto Finalist, where she was placed third in the Concerto. She is always keen to give things a go and this year has developed a passion for public speaking. She performs with great confidence as a soloist, and also loves being part of an ensemble where she is a great supporter of others.
• Year 7 (joint): Mia Zhou has had quite the year in the arts, in her age group ensembles of Concordio Strings, Virtuoso Voce and Hip Hop, but also in the senior groups as a member of the Diocesan Symphony and as a member of the cast of The Sound of Music. She was also a Concerto and Aria finalist this year, placing third in the Aria. She is enthusiastic, bubbly, and a great supporter of her classmates and team members.
• Year 8: Isabelle Rowbotham is talented and enthusiastic student across the arts – Bella Cantoris, hip hop, and virtuoso voce. Her drama teacher describes her as a divine actress whose positive attitude allows her to grow and develop her stage craft. She is a wonderful part of an ensemble, sharing the stage with everyone, not stealing the scene for herself.
• Year 9: Adalyn Tao is an incredibly talented musician across several music groups – leader of the ConcorDio strings, and the Orchestra, Handbells and Bella Cantoris. Across the school she is involved in multiple activities where she gives her all. Her kindness and empathy make her a great team member of whatever group she is part of. We love the music she makes and appreciate the time she gives to music at Dio.
• Year 10 (joint): Sarah Green is an exceptional person demonstrated in the vast array if activities she participates in and the fact she manages her academic workload as well. In the Arts programme is a member of Bella Cantoris, and Theatre Jazz and she had a lead role in the JHS Christmas Revue. She is already signed up for Mary Poppins in 2025. Sarah is a great team player, on the stage she has an engaging presence but she doesn’t take the limelight from others, rather shares the spotlight with everyone.
• Year 10 (joint): Mandipa Mhuka is full of energy and enthusiasm as part of Bella Cantoris, the Diocesan Symphony, the Wind Band, Handbells, and the Desi Dancers. Her music process journal reflects her insightful documentation of her ideas and the creative journey her academic class has taken her on. Her passion for cultural pursuits shines in her commitment to Kapa Haka and the Pasifika groups and performances.

The Junior High School Arts Person of the Year

Gabrielle Ram is a passionate member of the performing Arts community at Dio.

She has lead roles in JHS Xmas Revue & Mary Poppins and has been the leader of Bella Cantoris Choir in 2024, she is also a member of the St Cecilia Singers and  has twice won the year 9&10 Aria Competition and is a lead singer & songwriter in the Rockband programme. We love watching you perform Gabrielle and congratulate you as Junior High School Arts Person of the Year.

Ko Tātou Award

The class of 2020 donated this cup so we would have a formal recognition of the qualities of Ko Tātou. The award has been decided after considering student nominations.

This year the Year 7 and 8 Ko Tātou Cup goes to Charlie Jane Mason.

Charlie Jane has been nominated by her peers for this award as she is always so kind and thoughtful towards everyone in every situation. She is a great friend and is there to help anyone if they need it. An example of this is at the Aims games she supported girls who were getting a bit homesick. One of the nominators says she demonstrates the Year 8 cohort theme, “kindness all day every day”.

This year the Year 9 and 10 Ko Tātou Cup goes to Sarah Green.

Sarah received several nominations from her peers for this award. The number one adjective that was used to describe her was “kind”. Everyone noted that she is open to working with others and that she approaches every task with a positive attitude. She is always willing to listen to others and understands all perspectives that go into a situation. She is extremely respectful of all and values what makes people different.  One student noted that she was Sarah’s tour guide when she first visited Dio and she knew straight away that she was the type of person we wanted at Dio. Sarah has had an immense impact since arriving at Dio in Year 9. It is an indication of the respect with which Sarah is held by her peers that she was made the JHS House Captain for Mary Pulling after just one year at Dio.

Junior High School Servant Leadership Cup

Mandipa Mhuka has made a huge commitment across the school. She is a School Guide, a chapel server and reader, a member of the Kahui Committee and the Community Service Council and as part of her Duke of Edinburgh she makes personal service to her community.

As a leader she heads Bella Cantoris has served as tutor captain and is an integral member of the Pasifika and Kapa Haka groups. And all this is completed with Mandipa’s big smile and positive attitude.

For her outstanding leadership qualities and dedication to serving others, Mandipa stands out as a most deserving recipient of the Junior High School Leadership Cup.

Board Arts Scholarship

This is a one-year scholarship in which the recipient will be awarded a 25% reduction in tuition fees for the following year.

The Year 7 and 8 Arts Scholarship this year is awarded to Jasmine Hughes.

Jasmine is a passionate member of the performing Arts community at Dio. She had a lead roles in Sound of Music, JHS Xmas Revue and next year is in the Mary Poppins production. She is a member of both Virtuoso Voce and Bella Cantoris Choirs won the Year 7 and 8 Aria Competition, is Principal trumpet in Wind Band and has auditioned successfully for a place in the St Cecilia Singers in 2025.

The Year 9 and 10 Arts Scholarship this year is awarded to Gabrielle Ram.

As we have heard already Gabrielle has made a fantastic contribution across the Arts this year and every year. She is a talented singer and actress who is destined for great things in her senior years. Next year she is in the senior show Mary Poppins and I know the team are already in rehearsal for that.

Board Sports Scholarship

This is also a one-year scholarship in which the recipient will be awarded a 25% reduction in tuition fees for the following year.

The Year 7 and 8 Sports Scholarship this year is awarded to Phoebe Ulmer.

If three words were to describe Phoebe, they would be “talented, unstoppable, and fearless! This Year 7 ‘dynamo’ is in the top hockey, futsal, football, and netball teams in Year 7 and has an impressive collection of cycling national medals to her name. Phoebe has also tried her hand (successfully) at orienteering, won the school cross country championships and this term, joined the First XI cricket team and has made a habit of bowling out unsuspecting Year 12s from other schools. The sports department often wonders where she gets all of her energy from. Phoebe is also a kind and considerate team mate who likes to bring fun to everything she does – well done Phoebe we look forward to seeing how you continue to impact sport at Dio.

The Year 9 and 10 Sports Scholarship this year is awarded to Bowie Wang.

What have we not mentioned about Bowie already? Outside of winning the NZSS Senior Team Foils Championships, Bowie represented NZ at the Commonwealth Junior Championships where she picked up the bronze medal. Not only is Bowie super talented – she is an awesome team mate who is inclusive and always leads by example. Well done Bowie we are super proud of you!

Alumnae Awards

• Ethel Sandford was Headmistress from 1926 to 1932.  She was noted for her energy and determination as well as musical abilities. The Ethel Sandford Scholarship for Music 2024 goes to Yolanda Zhang.
• Mary Pulling was our Founding Headmistress from 1904 to 1926. The Mary Pulling Award recognises students who show potential and an outstanding contribution to the School in a wide range of areas. Students currently in Years 7,8,9 and 10 who will be continuing their education at the School next year are eligible for these Awards.  In making the selection, academic ability is a consideration, but the likely contribution of the student to the school is the deciding factor. The winners of the Mary Pulling Award for 2024 are:
  • Year 7: Hedy QinYear 8: Noomi RileyYear 9: Sophie BerryYear 10: Sofia Felderhof

Olivia & Jemma Couillault Cup

This award represents the top prize at the Year 7 and 8 prize giving to match the CJ Tunks and Eliza Edwards awards at the Year 9 and 10 and prize givings. The cup has been donated by the Couillault family and named after Olivia and Jemma who were deputy head prefects in the consecutive years of 2018 and 2019. The Cup is awarded to a student who demonstrates the school values of Honesty, Integrity, Respectfulness and Empathy; a student who fully involves herself in the life of the school and understands the importance of the service to others that lies at the heart of our school.

The 2024 winner of the Olivia and Jemma Couillault cup is Sophia Williams.

The adjective that sums up Sophia is kindness. She is always thoughtful and caring of others, but more than that if she notices someone is upset or she is worried for them, she will quietly support them or point a staff member in her direction. She has a sunny and optimistic outlook on life which has a positive impact on everyone she encounters. All her teachers have noted Sophia’s growth in confidence this year – she has blossomed as she has embraced the world of Dio. Congratulations Sophia on this very special award.

Heritage Foundation C J Tunks Memorial Award for General Excellence

The Award is to be given to the pupil who in her last year in the Junior High School at Dio, through her commitment of energy, time and enthusiasm, has made the most outstanding contribution to the wellbeing of the School and/or its students. This year the Award goes to Elizabeth Flint.

Elizabeth’s tutor teacher describes her as the kind heart of 10 Selwyn. She genuinely cares about those around her and is inclusive of all. Her enthusiasm for whatever her teachers present her with in the classroom makes her the ideal pupil. Her contribution to the school is indicative of her willingness to serve: she is a chapel reader, a member of the community service council, a librarian, as well as members of the Wind Band and the Theatre Jazz team.

Elizabeth is a leader but one who walks alongside others, not loudly out in front. For her outstanding commitment to enriching our school’s fabric and fostering a nurturing environment, Elizabeth is a deserving recipient of the CJ Tunks Memorial Award for General Excellence for 2024.

To read a complete list of award winners, please click here.