A sleepless night delving into the school motto and sturdy designs has come up trumps for two former Otumoetai Intermediate students, leaving their distinctively unique mark on the school.

As part of a school wide technology challenge students, late last year, had the chance to get creative designing a new lectern to replace the 25-year-old one.

Former Otumoetai Intermediate students Dannika Worthington and Madi Mackenzie with their winning lectern design. Photo by Tracy Hardy.

Fending off about 14 other entries were former students Dannika Worthington and Madi Mackenzie, whose modernised version impressed Otumoetai Intermediate technology teacher Murray Thompson.

Cast in the school colours – black, green, and yellow – the sleekly designed lectern has a built in microphone and is emblazoned with the school's logo – a koru pattern, redesigned seven years ago.

Alongside the school's motto unveiled in 1966, ‘Hope Strive Achieve', the koru encapsulates the sentiments of setting goals, striving for these and achieving what you set out to do.

The unfurling fern frond symbolises the beginning of life and youthful expectations for the future.

'It's cool to create something and leave it at school,” says Madi, now an Otumoetai College Year 9 student.

'We stayed up all night till about 2am and then got up at 5am to finish the design off,” adds Dannika, now at Tauranga Girls' College.

All entrants had to present plans and research various materials and designs along with creating a 3D model.

But Madi and Dannika weren't prepared for seeing their 3D model come to life in full size after several meetings with Steven Chambers of Stufkens+Chambers Architects finalising design features.

'Having the 3D model and then seeing the full sized design beside, the 3D model was nowhere near as good as that,” says Madi.

Otumoetai Intermediate technology teacher Murray Thompson is impressed with the level of thought and creativity that went into the entries, ranging from the more traditional wooden mould to modern and sleek designs.

But he couldn't look past Madi and Dannika's model which ticked all the boxes.

'It holds a huge amount of pride for these girls,” says Murray.

Along with having their names engraved on the lectern the pair received a $50 Warehouse voucher.