10TH ANNIVERSARY PRIZE GIVING - NZ HIGH COMMISSION, SUVA, 15 SEPTEMBER 2018

Winners, parents, school reps and invited guests attended a prize giving reception hosted by the NZ High Commissioner Mr Jonathan Curr and Mrs Curr in Fiji. Students traveled from various parts of the country and were given a night's hotel stay plus local hospitality in Suva. The top winners for 2018 are : Ipaelen Rota (Nakasi High School) and Uzma Azmi (Nadi Muslim College). Other category winners were from Marist Brothers High School, Dudley High School, Vashist Muni College, Drasa Secondary School, Nukuloa College, Penang Sangam High School, Labasa Sangam College and Korovuto College. Highly Commended prizes were also awarded to ten schools by judges Lady June Hillary and Dr Satendra Singh. Following the prize giving reception, the High Commissioner Mr Curr and Dr Singh visited four winning schools to award plaques to the top two, certificates and other prizes to participants. The schools visited were Nakasi High School, Nadi Muslim College, Vashist Muni College and Dudley High. Three other schools were visited by Deputy High Commissioner Ms Halia Haddad and Dr Satendra Singh in West Viti Levu - Nukuloa College, Drasa Secondary, Rakiraki Public High School where prizes were awarded. The judges commended the quality of writing and said they had noted an improved standard as both had read several hundred essays annually from senior Fiji students in the last 10 years. The High Commissioner said it has been a close partnership with the Fiji Association since the competition commenced. Several past winners attended the 10th anniversary function including Dr Sekaia who was the first winner 10 years ago, while at Yat Sen Secondary School; Darren Hicks, a lawyer, formerly a student at Suva Christian Community High School and Ratika Sologar, at University completing final year, formerly of Natabua Secondary.