On Tuesday, 3rd November, the Waitākere College community gathered for a wonderful evening of celebration at our annual Senior Prizegiving, honouring the extraordinary achievement and dedication of our senior students.

The evening was filled with immense pride as we recognised academic excellence, leadership, and service. A highlight of the night was the presentation of the prestigious Dux Literarum for 2026, awarded to Vitaraag Joshi for his outstanding academic performance and commitment to his studies.

We were privileged to welcome back alumnus Danny Newland of Titan Marine as our guest speaker. Danny shared inspiring words with our school leavers, reflecting on his journey from Waitākere College to building a successful career in the maritime industry, offering valuable advice on perseverance, passion and embracing future opportunities.

The generosity of our community was on full display, with numerous students receiving academic and trade scholarships from leading universities and the Waitākere College Foundation to support their future pathways.

Our highest awards were presented to:

Dux Litterarum - Vitaraag Joshi
Vitaraag Joshi is a scholar of exceptional intellect and focus who approaches his academic path with purpose and mastery over complex concepts. Arriving in 2024, he completed half his Year 11 timetable in Level 2 subjects including Calculus, Chemistry and Physics Advanced. As a Year 12 student in 2025, half his timetable featured Level 3 subjects such as Calculus, Chemistry Advanced and Physics Advanced. In total, combined with this year's timetable, Vitaraag has completed an impressive 10 Level 3 courses. Vitaraag was also selected for the prestigious University of Auckland Young Scholars Programme for 2026, attending Stage 1 Maths lectures in the first semester, further demonstrating his exceptional academic drive and capability. In Business Studies, Mr Yunis notes that Vitaraag has been the anchor for his group, taking the initiative and ensuring high-quality work. Ms Yu shared that in Statistics, Vitaraag is a focused and independent learner whose quiet work ethic speaks volumes. In Digital Technologies, Mr Semmons highlights that Vitaraag is driven by challenges, takes pride in his mahi, and carefully considers user needs. As of 3rd November, Vitaraag has achieved 111 Excellence credits and 16 Merits at Level 3. His exceptional academic journey is celebrated by a remarkable Level 3 GPA of 464. Vitaraag is thoroughly deserving of his prestigious recognition as our 2026 Dux Litterarum.

Proxime Accessit: Trixshia Castor

Stuart Anderson Cup - Vitaraag Joshi

Principal's Prize: Maia McQuoid

ISC Senior Trophy - Anna Maria Demeter

ISC Leavers Award - Jason Ta

TT Garland Cup - Maddison Meredith

Dave Sarich Award: Zane Kukutai-Seumanu

Jackson Award: Lance Breva

Bob Harvey Cup: Benine Vavia

Staff Scholarship: Liam Mulrooney

Congratulations to all our award winners, and a heartfelt thank you to the staff, whānau, and sponsors who support our students along their journey. We wish our graduating seniors every success as they step into their next chapter!
📸View the FULL ALBUM here