Top Scholars receive awards at Parliament

11 May 2022

Former Rangitoto College student Cameron Senior has received the Prime Minister’s Award for Academic Excellence in the New Zealand Qualifications Authority (NZQA) Top Scholar Awards.

“To be recognised as a Top Scholar is a significant achievement in any year, but especially remarkable when 2021’s exam preparations were disrupted by COVID-19,” says NZQA Chief Executive, Dr Grant Klinkum.

“The Prime Minister’s Award recognises the highest scoring participant in New Zealand Scholarship. Cameron receives the award in recognition of his Outstanding Scholarships in Art History, English, Geography, Health and Physical Education, History, Physics and Statistics, and Scholarships in Biology, Calculus and Chemistry. He was the Top Subject Scholar for Art History, Geography and Statistics.”

“In addition to his own academic achievement, Cameron supports other students and his wider community; being described by his principal as reaching far beyond the classroom in terms of his engagement and excellence in school life,” Dr Klinkum says

Hon Jan Tinetti, Associate Minister of Education, also presented Premier Awards to 12 students who had each achieved at least three Outstanding Scholarships, while NZQA’s Chair presented certificates to the highest scoring student in each of the 36 NZ Scholarship subjects.

“Each of these young people has demonstrated commitment, hard work and extraordinary ability,” says NZQA’s Chair, Hon Tracey Martin.

“In addition to honouring our Top Scholars, today’s ceremony recognised the support and encouragement provided by whānau, school principals and teachers” Hon Tracey Martin says.

More than 6,600 students sat New Zealand Scholarship examinations in 2021, with 2,130 students awarded one or more scholarships.