Recognyz Youth Awards 2011 is a not-for-profit event by youth, for youth, which is all about celebrating the fantastic achievements of the young people in our midst. Awesome musicians, talented artists, clever ideas and people, great leaders, strong role models, environmentalists and members of various inspiring groups – every day there are young people throughout the city doing special things that mark them out in the crowd. September 30 was their chance to shine as Hamilton Youth Council and Hamilton City Council partnered to host Recognyz Youth Awards 2011 - and what a night it was!
Recognyz 2011 Winners
Manaakitanga - Sponsored by SBS Bank
Winner - Kylie Zinsli
Kylie works for non-profit organisation Young Workers Resource Centre to empower young people aged 15-25 years in the workplace to develop and maintain positive employment experiences. Kylie is completing her honours degree in social policy, is an active member of the Service and Food Workers’ Unions and participates in the Stand Up movement in Hamilton, a group of young people who organise awareness-raising events regarding politics and other work issues.
Finalist - Sandra McGonigal and India Hendrikse
Youth 4 Youth - Sponsored by Glenview Community Centre
Winner - Hannah Willemse
Hannah is studying piano performance at the University of Waikato, is an achiever at the very highest level and has been awarded a Hillary Scholarship in recognition of this. She is a highly disciplined and outstanding performer, winning the University of Waikato Concerto Competition and performing as piano concerto soloist with the Opus Orchestra. Hannah will be giving a solo piano recital in the Lewis Eady Emerging Artist Steinway Series in Auckland this year.
Finalist - Heidi Arndt and Letari Paku
Innovation - Sponsored by NZ-Central
Winner - Assil Russell
Iraqi-born Assil is finishing off her final year of Dentistry at Otago University and has spent the last two years establishing New Zealand’s first and only registered medical charity for Iraqi children, ICARE (Iraqi Children’s Aid and Repair Endeavour). ICARE provides free and urgent medical aid to orphaned children in Iraq and Assil has raised $10,000 for the charity, helping many children receive life-saving operations. Assil has won the Community Dentistry Award three years in a row, got the highest mark in her class and received the prize for children’s dentistry.
Finalist - Danae Cooney and Rachel Bowley
Beatstreet - Sponsored by Wintec
Winner - Henry Ashby
Henry has been involved in a number of intense, mind boggling productions and his contribution to the local community has been vast, performing in the Gardens Arts and Fringe festivals in 2010 and 2011 and on the Globe stage in London. Henry can often be seen busking on the streets of Hamilton and has been in a wide variety of productions, ranging from Westside Story to Death of a Salesman.
Finalist - Hannah Willemse and Nick Johnston
Enviro - Sponsored by McCaw Lewis
Winner - Emma Ryder
Emma is passionate about preserving and protecting the environment for generations to come. She is an Environment Captain at Hillcrest High School. Emma is in charge of the Green Team at school, is on the Senior Council, is a volunteer for Red Cross New Zealand and is a member of the Rotary Interact Club at school. Next year Emma is planning to study law at university, with an interest in international law.
Finalist - Divya Sharma and Lauren Bell
Dream Team - Sponsored by ninetyfour youth centre
Winner - G-Unit Youth Leadership Group
G-Unit Youth Leadership Group is a team of young people aged 14-22 years based at the Glenview Community Centre who positively influence younger children and their community through volunteering. G-Unit’s willingness to volunteer demonstrates a high level of commitment and dedication. There is no dollar value on the countless hours of volunteering these young people carry out in the community. The community is privileged and blessed to have these young people amongst it.
Finalist - AIESEC Waikato and Greens on Campus Waikato
Kia Kaha - Sponsored by Hamilton Cook Islands Association
Winner - Akanksha Munshi-Kurian
When 13 year old Akanksha was told she had to shave her head to prepare for major brain surgery after being diagnosed with Moyamoya, an extremely rare vascular condition restricting blood flow to the brain, she was determined to stay positive. She shaved her hair in public, raising more than $3,300 for UNICEF. Akanksha has been a role model since she was at primary school and has a passion for protecting the environment.
Finalist - Aodhan Hamilton and Sunil Fernandez-Ritchie
Supreme - Sponsored by Youth Council and 89.8 ZM
The Supreme award, is selected from the finalists of all of the categories listed above. The person or group selected for this award is a stand out with the judges. The winner of this award receives $2000 dream dollars to further their passion.
Winner - Assil Russell
Hannah Banks
Community Development
Level 4, Council Offices
Garden Place
Hamilton City Council
Private Bag 3010
Hamilton 3240
Phone: 838 6665
Fax: 838 6751
| 
