Four Ashburton College year 12 students were thrilled to hear their names announced as part of the college’s four-person head student leadership team for next year.
They are head students Yasmin Larry, 16, and Jake Parsons, 17, and deputy head students Sophia Aguila, 17, and Taniela Palavi, 17.
The four were pleased to be announced as the head students at the recent year 11 and 12 prizegiving following an exhaustive and rigorous selection process. They will be among about 230 year 13 students for 2025.
‘‘At the time I felt like it was a big weight lifted off my shoulders,’’ Taniela said.
‘‘We sat in the prizegiving, and we had to wait until the very end to get our names called, it was quite nervewracking,’’ he said.
His three fellow head students echoed his comments, on how honoured they felt to be taking on the leadership roles at the school.
Ashburton College is expected to start 2025 with a roll of 1400.
First of all, the four were among 20 who applied for the roles, submitting a blurb about themselves.
Voting was under taken across year 12; the list was narrowed down to 11 students, who made speeches in front of the school.
Interviews with a selection panel of teachers were then undertaken, and voting across the whole school, before the panel made its decision.
Yasmin said what she was most excited about for her role next year was connecting with the whole school, ‘‘giving them the opportunities they deserve’’.
Jake said he was looking forward to being a good role model.
‘‘I have looked up to head students in my time at the college, so getting that role for next year is something quite special,’’ he said.
Sophie said she was looking forward to working with her fellow head students, ‘‘and making a positive impact on the school’’.
Taniela echoed Sophie’s comments, saying his fellow head students were ‘‘an amazing group’’.
Meanwhile, the announcement follows Mount Hutt College in August naming its head students.
They are Jordan Imms-Protheroe, Estella Lister, Lucas Plimmer and Sarah Reeve.
