Student achievements in sports and culture were celebrated at the OUSA Blues and Golds awards last Thursday.
The Blues award for Sportsman of the Year went to Fa’asiu Fuatai, who has been selected for the All Blacks’ 7s squad after playing in the University of Otago Premier team. The Blues award for Sportswoman of the Year went to Stephanie Botting, who competed at the Lifesaving World Championships in France last year. She came second in the Women’s Single Rescue and third in the Women’s Mass Rescue.
The award for Coach of the Year went to Matt Smaill, who coaches rowing.
Golds cultural awards went to Liam Kernaghan for bagpiping, Chantelle Shatford for highland and national dance, and Ailis Oliver-Kerby for theatre.
Blues sports awards went to Chanmony Khieng, Soraya Umaga-Jensen, Katarina Schwarz, Patrick Dawson, Anya Noble, Sarah MacGibbon, Francois Cuccurullo, Lachlan Davidson, Maddi McLean, Sebastian Buddle, Connor Harrison, Sarah Simpson, Hannah Kennedy, Hazel Cunliffe, Natasha Bonham-Carter, Fa’asui Fuatai, Brendon Timmins, Sean O’Connell, Stephanie Botting, Sophie Wilkinson and Soraya Umaga-Jenson.
The University of Otago Graduates’ Association award for Outstanding Contribution to Arts and Culture went to Mariana Te Pou for Māori culture and David Stock, Hamish Annan, Jordan Dickson and Luke Agnew for theatre. Kane Welsh won the award for dance, SengWai Cheah for Malaysian culture and Laura MacKay for community service.
The University of Otago Graduates’ Association award for Outstanding Contribution to Sport went to Maddison Crawford for basketball, Conrad Goodhew for rugby and Tamati Brooks for squash.
Society of the Year went to the Otago University Medical Students’ Association, the Malaysian Students’ Association and the Sri Lankan Students’ Association. OUSA Club of the Year went to the Otago University Debating Society, the Otago University Snow Sports Club and the Otago Campus Badminton Club.
Tash Austin of the Otago University Medical Students’ Association received the Silver Service award. It was noted that she had been instrumental in gathering over 20,000 signatures to petition against the seven year student loan cap.
