Katikati College student Rikayla Richardson is the winner of the Trustpower Western Bay of Plenty Youth Spirit Community Award.

The Year 13 student received recognition at last night's Trustpower Western Bay of Plenty Community Awards held at Comvita in Paengaroa.

Trustpower Chief Executive Vince Hawksworth, Rikayla Richardson from Katikati College and Western Bay of Plenty Mayor Ross Paterson.

The Youth Community Award, run jointly by Trustpower and the Western Bay of Plenty District Council, recognises secondary school students' service to the school and the community.

Local high schools were asked to recommend one student to be considered for the award. Eligible students had to have given service to school or community projects, treated others with care and respect and been a good ambassador for the school and the Western Bay of Plenty region.

Trustpower Community Relations Representative Jess Somerville says Rikayla is a busy young lady with a big heart.

'Keen to make a difference at her school and in the community Rikayla lends her time to a variety of projects and causes.

'At Katikati College she is a peer support leader and part of the environmental, charity and health committees.

'She is also a member of the bully buster programme and she gives up her time to issue laptops to students at her school.

'Out in the community she volunteers for the Red Cross and for many years has helped the Katikati Community Resource Centre run their educational holiday programmes.

'The Waihi Beach Surf Club also benefits hugely from her time as she leads the Rookie Life Guard programme and is part of the emergency call out squad. Last season alone she committed 146 hours to this cause and was awarded the highest number of volunteer hours by the club for her efforts.

'As a coach, student representative and humble, unassuming leader she is a very deserving winner of this award and it is an absolute pleasure to highlight some of her achievements here tonight,” says Jess.

For winning the award, Rikayla will receive a trophy, framed certificate and $500 prize money.

She also gets to make a $250 donation to a community group of her choice – with that being the Waihi Beach Surf Club.