Celebrating Excellence at Thames High School’s 2024 Senior Prize Giving
On Wednesday, 30 October, Thames High School gathered to celebrate the achievements of over 120 taiohi / young people. The 2024 Senior Prize Giving honored students for their academic accomplishments, as well as premier awards in sports, arts, cultural activities, and service to the school and community.
The guest speaker, former student Keenan Alexander, shared his inspiring journey. After a tragic accident during a rugby game in 2016 left him paralyzed, Keenan’s message to the Year 13 leavers centred on resilience, self-worth, and being proud of one’s chosen path. His story of overcoming adversity deeply resonated with the audience. Alongside Keenen, other distinguished guests included Hon. Scott Simpson (MP for Coromandel) and Eric and Mark Bowater, who presented the Stephen Bowater Memorial Scholarship in memory of their son and brother, Stephen Bowater, a former student who tragically passed away in his second year at Auckland University.
The 2024 Head Students, Cassandra Duthie and Koen Liddell, captivated the audience with speeches reflecting their unique styles—Cassandra with eloquence and Koen with humour—as they recounted their time at Thames High School. They warmly welcomed the newly appointed Head Students, Izzy Fitzsimons and Harris Elliot-Hogg, who will lead a larger Senior Student Leader team of 24 students in 2025, selected from 40 applicants.
It was a night of pride, inspiration, and reflection, celebrating both the past accomplishments and the promising future of Thames High School’s young leaders.
Here are the recipients of the Dux and Proxime Accessit to Dux 2024:
Here are the recipients of the top achievement awards:
Here are the Student Leaders for 2025:
Here are some photos of the ceremony:
