Stuff
Marlborough Girls’ College runs the Graeme Dingle Foundation’s Stars programme and peer mentor and student Sophie Ridley-Scott was recognised in the charity’s annual awards.
Three Marlburians have been recognised in the Graeme Dingle Foundation’s annual Excellence Awards.
The awards, held at the Auckland Zoo domes on November 2, acknowledged people for their dedication to the youth development charity and its programmes across 10 categories.
Among the recipients was Marlborough Girls’ College student Sophie Ridley-Scott, who was recognised for her contribution as a peer mentor in the Foundation’s Stars programme.
Stars supports all year 9 students at the college, helping them to make a positive transition into high school.
The programme also provides an important leadership opportunity for the year 12 and 13 students as mentors to the year 9s through peer group work – developing small group management skills, communication, goal-setting skills and resiliency.
“One of the most important lessons I’ve taken away from the Stars programme is the importance of stepping outside of my comfort zone. It’s easy to stick with what I know and what feels safe, but real growth begins when I start pushing myself beyond my boundaries,” Ridley-Scott said in an emailed release.
Another recognised was Chloe Jones who received an award for her participation in the Career Navigator course.
“Joining the course, I thought I wasn’t going to get anything out of it, as I was so determined I knew everything about employment. Looking back now, the Graeme Dingle Foundation has taught me so much about the real world including how I should stand my ground in employment … During this course my confidence grew around people making it so much easier to be able to encourage others to do their best,” Jones said.
Graeme Dingle Foundation Marlborough board chairperson Nicki Stretch received the National Outstanding Volunteer Award.
“Receiving this award is very special, and quite humbling, because, as volunteers we do things to hopefully make the world a little better. And we see that in the people that are being recognised for their own special qualities and achievements,” Stretch said.
