Two Te Puke High School students have graduated from the 2019 Acorn Foundation Dale Carnegie Youth Programme.

Daniel Bartley and Adriana Phillips were selected to attend the programme, which was funded by the Acorn Foundation's generous donor Mary McGowan and her late husband Roy.

Mary and Roy have funded the scholarships since 2010, and more than 230 year 13 student's benefit from the three day course.

The course teaches the Dale Carnegie five drivers of success: building greater self-confidence, strengthening people skills, enhancing communication skills, developing leadership skills, and reducing stress and worry.

Daniel says the three day youth course was an influential experience.

'I believe that I can use Dale Carnegies 30 principles to succeed in the future and be able to thrive in social situations.

'I have found my public speaking ability has drastically improved through being pushed out of my comfort zone.”

Adriana says the course taught her a vast range of valuable life and people skills which will help her in the future.

'My confidence and ability to hold proper conversations with new people and how to manage stress and worry before it gets worse.

'I really recommend this course to everyone.”

The Acorn Foundation is proud to partner with Dale Carnegie BOP Waikato and Priority One's InStep programme to offer this youth-focused course which provides techniques for improving both self-confidence and communication that are useful throughout life.