An impressive student from Aquinas College with a record of service to school and community has been recognised as the winner of the Trustpower Youth Community Spirit Award.

Adam van Leeuwen was named as the winner of the award jointly run by Trustpower and Tauranga City Council at last night's awards.

Tauranga Mayor Stuart Crosby with award winner Adam van Leeuwen from Aquinas College and Trustpower Chief Executive Vince Hawksworth.

For winning Adam received a trophy, framed certificate and $500 prize money.

An additional $250 will be donated to St John Ambulance as the charity of Adam's choice.

St John Welcome Bay Youth divisional manager Vaughan Coy says Adam's donation will be used to help fund leadership courses.

'Adam is a very generous and humble young man and it was great to see his efforts recognised this evening. He invests a huge amount of his time into mentoring young cadets and is a great role model for the younger members,” says Vaughan.

Trustpower Community Relations Representative Jess Somerville says the Trustpower Youth Community Spirit Award is a wonderful opportunity to formally acknowledge the difference young people make.

'A lot of negative attention is often directed towards young people and we tend to forget about the incredible input they have in the community.

'Adam is a great example of a student who, despite a busy schedule in and out of school, prioritises giving back to his community through the wide range of volunteer activities he commits himself too.”

Tauranga Girls' College student Emily McCarthy was the runner up in the award with other finalists including Spencer Voorend from Bethlehem College, Deborah Paine from Otumoetai College,Paula Smith from Mount Maunganui College and Ben Richards from Tauranga Boys' College.

Local high schools were asked to recommend one student to be considered for this Award, which celebrates the work young people do to enrich their community. It is open to all students who have given service to school or community projects, treated others with care and respect and been a good ambassador for the school and the Tauranga region.

'Adam is the type of student who on top of a busy academic programme in any given week will help run a school assembly, spend time coaching a junior hockey team as well as a few nights at his local St John mentoring the younger cadets,” says Jess.

'It's a big commitment for a Year 13 student with aspirations to pursue a career as an Intensive Care Paramedic, but one that Adam gets a huge amount of joy from.

'At his school he is the student leader for arts and cultural activities and the lead student in the ICT/Multimedia team; a responsibility that involves planning full assemblies, filming special events whilst taking time to teach the younger members.

'On top of this he has represented the school for many years as a hockey player, volunteers as an umpire and the last 2 seasons he has coached a team also. Adam also took part in his schools Fiji Service Trip where they built a house for a family in need.

'Adam is an accomplished St John volunteer, and after 10 years of service and multiple awards recognising his commitment to this organisation, he has recently been made a Leader. In this position he mentors younger members to challenge themselves, teaches them life skills and helps them to become positive members of society.”