CGA's Annual Prize-giving Ceremony Celebrates Student Excellence

CGA Aoraki Campus held its annual Prize Giving Ceremony on December 2nd, honouring the academic, extracurricular, and leadership achievements of our 2024 Aoraki students.

Principal Mark Phillips, along with Aoraki faculty, students and families celebrated an incredible year - of dedication, remarkable achievements, and hard work.

Achievements Honoured

The prize-giving ceremony honours notable CGA students’ achievements across various areas - not just academic achievements but also their contributions to sports, the performing arts, technology, and the wider community.

CGA’s CEO, Penelope Barton, congratulated the students in her welcoming message, emphasising CGA’s global reach, now spanning over 1,700 students from over 70 countries.

She praised the students’ broad achievements in their communities, hobbies, sports, and extracurricular pursuits; reflecting how well-rounded, determined, and dynamic the school community has become.

Penelope's crowning message: “Just continue to dream big. Push yourself to grow, question, and innovate. We talk about unlocking that limitless potential, and that's for all of our students here to continue to push themselves forward in their potential. If there’s one thing I’ve observed at this school, it’s that our students are ready to redefine their limits.”

Acknowledging Student Achievements and Growth

In his Principal’s address, Mark Phillips, Head of the A-level Pathway, congratulated all the prize winners, emphasising that these awards are a small recognition of the hours of dedicated study and commitment of the students to their chosen fields of interest.

“Our students are achieving at the highest level in their external qualifications and examinations, whether at national, regional, or even global levels. Their accomplishments are remarkable, and we are immensely proud of their achievements.”

“We're attracting highly aspirational families and students who seek academic challenges, who are motivated to develop, and have a strong social sense of social service and core values. We are nurturing our own culture in this regard and in particular, we continue to build on the strong sense of fun. We acknowledge success and our students work really hard to support each other. You've made a huge imprint and we wish you all the best.”

Prize Giving Awards

Extracurricular Excellence Awards

The Extracurricular Excellence awards highlighted student achievements that spanned a wide range of disciplines, reflecting the diverse interests and skills within our student body:

Bella P - Contribution to Ethics Olympiad Award

Xheherazade A - Academic Excellence and Leadership Award

Ollie L & Archie C - Global Insight Award

Milan L - CGA Community and Culture Contribution Award

Leela L - Creative and Entrepreneurial Award

Nicholas H, Bella P, & Faatimah C -  Sporting Excellence Awards

Emma M & Arien He -  Music Excellence and Contribution Award

Academic Achievement Awards

The Academic Achievement awards were given to students who achieved first place in their respective courses. These awards are a recognition of academic excellence across various levels of study at CGA.

PRE IG Stage 1: Part-Time Academic Awards

Charles X - Mathematics

Tiffany Y - English

Chloe  L - Science

PRE-IG Stage 1: Full-Time Endeavour

Giuliana L

Sophia A

PRE IG Stage 1: Full-Time Academic

Henry R - Art

Kate L - Commerce

Vedika T - English Language

Ruby C -  Computer Science, Science, Mathematics, Global Citizenship

PRE IG Stage 2: Part-Time Academic

Elisha R - English

Oliver T - Mathematics

David L - Science

PRE-IG Stage 2: Full-Time Endeavour

Ollie L

PRE-IG Stage 2: Full-Time Achievement

Lucas R - Commerce

Xolaris A - Computer Science

Shaoey C - English

Niva M - Mathematics

Xanthe B - Science, Global Citizenship

iGCSE: Part-Time Achievement

Emily H - English Language

TianTian C - English Literature

Sophia S - Mathematics

Sana S - Biology

Angelina V - Chemistry

IGCSE: Full-Time Endeavour

Fah L

iGCSE: Full-Time Achievement

Rukaya N - English Language

Andy Z - English Literature

India G - History

Rory B - Mathematics

Isabelle H - Business, Economics, Psychology

Xheherazade A - Computer Science, Biology, Chemistry, Physics

AS Level: Part-Time Achievement

Arielle R - Mathematics

Omar L - Chemistry, Physics

AS Level: Full-Time Endeavour

Amelia M

Faatimah C

Leela L

AS Level: Full-Time Achievement

Noah G - Computer Science

Bernie M - Business

Andy Z - Mathematics

Ryota W - Further Mathematics

Karen Y - English Language, Psychology

Emma P - English Literature, History

Rikuto W - Business, Biology, Chemistry, Physics

A2 Level: Academic Achievement Awards

Part-Time A2 Level

Rikuto W- Mathematics

Full-Time A2 Level

David Y - Economics

Ram R - Chemistry

Lily W - History

Rosanne L - Psychology

Paige B - English Literature, Biology

Ryota W - Mathematics, Physics

High Distinction Awards

These awards are given to students who have consistently performed at the highest level across multiple subjects.

Ruby C - PRE iGCSE STAGE 1

Xanthe B - PRE iGCSE STAGE 2

Isabelle H & Xheherazade A - iGCSE

Rikuto W, Emma P, Karen Y - iAS

Edexcel Outstanding Learner Awards

Pearson Excellence Award at IGCSE

Marisa S - Highest Mark in Thailand for iGCSE Biology & iGCSE Business (November 2024)

Ayaka M - Highest Mark in New Zealand for iGCSE Mathematics (May/June 2024)

Outstanding Learner at IGCSE

Andy Z & Faatimah C -  Highest Mark in Oceania for iGCSE Chemistry (November 2024)

Sivaram K - Highest Mark in Oceania for iGCSE Physics

Sivaram K & Kynan M -  Highest Mark in Oceania for iGCSE Mathematics (November 2024)

Outstanding Learner at A Level

Jade S - Highest Mark in the World for A-Level Psychology (January 2024)

Holly C -  Highest Mark in the World for A-Level English Literature (January 2024)

Alissa X -  Highest Mark in the World for A Level  English Literature (May/June 2024)

School Awards

Service to School

Winner: Rikuto W

This award is given to the student who has passionately and actively contributed to a wide range of activities, supporting and strengthening our community.

All Rounder

Winner: Paige B

This award is given to the student who has made significant contributions across various aspects of CGA life and community engagement.

DUX

Winners: Paige B & Ryota W

This award is given to the students who achieved the highest overall ranking in academic achievement for the graduating year.

Beyond the Awards and Recognition

The ceremony was brought to life by exceptional musical performances, showcasing the artistic talent in the CGA student community.

Emma mesmerised the audience with her rendition of "Poor Wandering One" from The Pirates of Penzance, while Doris impressed the audience with a beautiful piano performance.

Outgoing Aoraki Head Boy Max and Head Girl Paige extended their heartfelt congratulations to this year's award winners and deepest gratitude to the student leadership team.

“I believe that attending CGA is not a mere happenstance, it is a choice. CGA is a place where you are not only given the tools to succeed academically, but where you are also encouraged to develop your own path, to grow as a person, and to embrace the responsibility that comes with your choice,” said Paige during her speech.

“I encourage you to make a conscious choice, to engage fully with the world around you."

"CGA is a community of highly motivated individuals, each with their own unique story and vision. By engaging with one another, you broaden your own understanding of the world, and in doing so you enrich our community as a whole,” Max added.

Looking Forward to the 2025 Academic Year

The Aoraki Prize Giving marks the conclusion of CGA's 2024 academic year, celebrating the remarkable talents and achievements of our diverse student body.

Looking ahead to the next academic year, the Aoraki House names will transition to Sheppard House and Rutherford House, an evolution to reflect CGA’s student body and their interests across the campus.

Kate Sheppard was a prominent member of the women’s suffrage movement within New Zealand, and Ernest Rutherford was a New Zealand physicist who was a pioneering researcher in both atomic and nuclear physics.

Additionally, the new student leadership team was announced, with Emma and Rikuto stepping into the roles of Head Girl and Head Boy for the Aoraki Campus.

2025 Aoraki Student Leadership

Head of Sheppard House: Ariel V

Head of Rutherford House: Xheherazade A

Student Council Prefects: Lily W, Ollie L, Shaoey C, Isabella C

Academic Prefects: Josie B and Doris D

Cultural and Community Prefects: Kiani C and Will M

Creative Arts Prefects: Leela L and Bella P

Junior School Prefects: Ryota W and Jenson T

Yearbook: Ariana L