George Kopa, pictured with his mum Peggy Putarahu, was awarded Cultural Personality 2025.
Ōtorohanga College students at their recent prizegiving were urged to consider education more than simply a preparation for life, but as “life in motion … shaped by every lesson, every challenge and every moment of discovery”.
Hurley Cup winner Taite Bourke 2026 College Board student representative Jessica Buckley, pictured with Mrs G and Mr J Buckley.
That was said by principal Lyndsay Kurth as students, their families, teachers and Board members gathered for the annual senior prizegiving.
Students had been supported and uplifted by many on their education journey thus far, she said.
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- Courtney Smith was named 2025 DUX.
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- Corey Hobbs was 2025 Sportsman of the Year.
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- Holly Church was 2025 Sportswoman of the Year.
“The world they are entering is complex and ever-changing. The pathways before them will not always be straight or predictable,” she said. “Our role is not merely to guide them toward a single destination, but to equip them with the intellectual curiosity, moral compass and resilience to navigate their own paths.
“Education, therefore, is not simply preparation for life; it is life in motion – shaped by every lesson, every challenge and every moment of discovery.”
Ōtorohanga School principal Lyndsay Kurth.
Kurth commended the wider Ōtorohanga College community that characterised the special nature of the school … “students, staff and families who journey together, shaping a community that is both nurturing and aspirational”, and thanked those who had contributed to the year’s success.
She urged senior students, particularly those awarded prizes, to view their achievement as milestones, not endpoints, and to continue to pursue learning with curiosity, courage and integrity.
“To our Year 13 students, this evening signifies both a conclusion and a beginning. The path ahead may be uncertain, but it will be rich with possibility,” she said. “Embrace the challenges and opportunities that await you; they are the crucible in which your character and purpose will continue to be shaped.”
Awards presented included to Courtney Smith (Dux), Kate Murchie (Proxime Accessit), Taite Bourke (The Hurley Cup), George Kopa (Cultural Personality of the Year), Corey Hobbs (Sportsman of the Year), Holly Church (Sportswoman of the Year), and Brooklyn Speight (Pathways Vocational Excellence Award).
George Kopa, pictured with his mum Peggy Putarahu, was awarded Cultural Personality 2025.
