Two of our students were recognised for outstanding success in their chosen fields at the Hastings Heretaunga Lions Club Young Achievers Awards Ceremony last night. Year 13 student, James Ashby and former student Mitchell Snell, were part of a group of very impressive young men and women from the Hawke’s Bay region who were acknowledged for their success and talent. 

James Ashby

James is an outstanding academic and musician with a genuine desire to serve and support others.

A superb self-manager, James has crafted an outstanding academic record as a student on the College’s accelerate pathway. As runner up to our Year 12 Dux in 2019, James holds both NCEA Level 1 and 2 Endorsed with Excellence and is entered for NCEA Scholarship in 2020.

James’s determination and passion for learning spills beyond the four walls of the classroom, with music and drama being the main beneficiaries.

A highly accomplished musician, James has a passion for the cello. His talents were recognised with selection for the New Zealand Secondary Schools Orchestra for 2020. James won the District and Regional Chamber music Competition in 2019. Recipient of College Colours in music, James makes a huge contribution to a number of highly successful College bands.

Drama has been a huge part of James life at the College. A member of every Major Production in the school in the last 5 years, James holds Grade 8 NZ Speech and Drama with Honours Plus pass and now works towards his Diploma in this area. Top outcomes in the Sheilah Winn Shakespeare festival reinforce the outstanding dramatic talent that James possesses.

James has a genuine desire to serve. He holds his Duke of Edinburgh Gold Award. Having begun his Suzuki teacher training James is active in the music community regularly supporting younger cellists and musicians both in College and community bands and groups.

Cheerful, determined and mature, James undertook a two-and-a-half-month exchange to France to broaden his cultural perspectives in 2019. James wants to pursue a career in medicine and would love to volunteer as a doctor in French speaking African countries.

James is a young achiever who is a genuinely worthy recipient of this fine award.

Mitch Snell

Mitchell is a young man whose record in track and field and in Cross Country speaks for itself. Without question Mitchell will go down as one of the finest middle-distance runners that this College and region has had the privilege to be able to support.

Mitchell placed 3^rd in the New Zealand Secondary schools National Athletics Championships. He is the 2020 East Coast North Island’s 800m Champion and was part of a record breaking 4 x 400m Relay team at that same event. He was, subsequently, selected to represent ECNI at the National Championships. Mitchell competed in January in the “Capital Classic” National Club athletics event in Wellington and, against international competition, won the Open Men’s 800m event. Mitchell is currently ranked 18^th in New Zealand Open Men for the 800m event.

Mitchell holds multiple records throughout the Colleges age groups in Track and Field. Uniquely, he has been awarded Lindisfarne Sports “Colours” every year of the last 5 years he has attended the College. This is a very rare achievement.

Cross country, as well as Athletics has seen his him perform at the highest levels.

Mitchells all round determination and sporting prowess can be fully appreciated when it is realised that he has been a member of the College’s First XI Football team for 3 years and, as a junior student in the College, was selected to represent Hawkes Bay in the HB U15 basketball team. He is a young man with tremendous athletic ability and potential.

A tremendously committed trainer, Mitchell sets a superb example for younger athletes and assists in coaching and mentoring these athletes in the Hastings Club scene. Mitchell still has much he wants to achieve. His coaches have the belief in him that he has the potential to achieve at the very highest level in his chosen sport of athletics. His long term ambition is to represent his country on the international stage.

Mitchell is a very worthy recipient of this Young Achievers award.

Article added: Thursday 29 October 2020