The 2019 Senior Academic Prizegiving was held today, Friday, 1 November.

This event honours our academic prize winners. Students who have excelled will not have done so due to any individual factor or reason. It will be a collision of reasons, not least the number of people who have supported them, provided advice and guidance, kindness and care.

At Rutherford we understand and believe E-hara taku toa, he takitahi, he toa takitini – my success should not be bestowed onto me alone, as it was not individual success but success of a collective.

At Rutherford we understand and believe E-hara taku toa, he taki-tahi, he toa taki-tini – my success should not be bestowed onto me alone, as it was not individual success but success of a collective.

Rutherford College Top Scholars
2019 Eric Clark Award for Dux Litterarum | Maggi Li
2019 Eric Clark Award for Proxime | Dean Phommahaxay
Year 12 | Benjamin Quach | Critical Mass Award ($200)
Year 11 | Zachary Sit | Te Atatu Bible Chapel Award ($200)

My best wishes and thanks to all Year 13’s and any other students who depart Rutherford this year.

Continue to live with integrity which involves being honest with others and most importantly with the person in the mirror, it is always upon that person’s judgement that you must first pass.

Live with courage – the type of courage I mean is moral courage. It’s having the strength to do what you know to be right.

Pursue excellence in all that you do.  Excellence is not about perfection; excellence is a journey of doing better and remembering that we are what we repeatedly do. It is the little things done well and done often over time that make the difference.

At Rutherford I believe that you know who you are, where you are from and what you believe in and that you learn to never compare yourself to the best others can be, always be the best you can be.

In other words, Tohea – strive for personal excellence.