Shirlene Henry received the Imanuela Akatemia’s Senior General Excellence award at the school’s prizegiving awards on Wednesday last week.

A student at Imanuela Akatemia for the past four years, this year Henry, a Year 13 student, studied Level 2 and Level 3 certificates and was surprised to be awarded the top award.

“I was shocked at first, I wasn’t expecting it, but was I was happy,” she said.

Henry is still weighing up her further education plans for next year. “I’m still thinking, there are a lot of options, I had planned to go overseas but because of Covid it’s really hard, so I’m not sure yet.”

Business mathematics is her favourite subject and Henry’s goal is to achieve a business degree. “I love working with numbers, it gets me excited,” she said.

She thanked her parents Terence and Mabel Elizabeth Henry for their love and support. Her parting advice for Imanuela Akatemia students, “Don’t look down on yourself, keep aiming high and pray at the same time.”

The presentation of awards was held at the recently renovated and re-opened Arepua Community Centre in Takuvaine.

A public water station stands in front of the house and a new basketball court was erected at the back of the building.

Landowners of the area, the late Pastor John Tangi and sister Meleaone Tumii from the Itaaka Line of Ngati Vakatini, were acknowledged and appreciated for gifting their land to the Assemblies of God Church branch.