Ella Austin has been left breathless on more than one occasion this year.
The latest was when the 17-year-old was named Dux Litterarum for Awatapu College.
"I was very, very surprised when they announced it, I couldn't really breathe," she said.
Austin joins a handful of high-achieving secondary students from throughout the wider Manawatū who have been honoured for their book smarts this month.
For Austin it was more than her clever mind that helped her scoop one of Awatapu's top awards.
The teenager's giving nature and willingness to help were also noted as something special by the school's principal, Gary Yeatman.
Austin's accolades include the Sims' Cup for Dux, the Central Districts Indian Community Nettin Patel Memorial Scholarship and an Awatapu College Educational Trust Scholarship. She won an Honour Award for academic achievement, another for service to the college, was named an Awatapu Scholar and won a University of Canterbury Dux Scholarship.
"I never thought when I started at Awatapu in year 9 that I would end up here; friends with everybody in my year and just loving my time at high school," she said.
Austin was also the secretary of the student council and was involved with the Cancer Society, 40 Hour Famine, Relay for Life and Model United Nations.
She was a peer support leader, was on the arts, ball and magazine committees and was a member of the school's Archiving and Book Club.
She participated in the World Vision Top 20 Youth Ambassador programme, organised the school's annual bake sale, which raised funds for Epilepsy New Zealand, and was named the Trustpower Palmerston North Youth Community Spirit Award winner earlier in the year.
She also received a Zonta Young Women in Public Affairs Award this month, which recognises her leadership skills and commitment to public service and civic causes.
She placed first in year 13 classics, English and French, second in chemistry and physics and earned excellence awards for five subjects.
She was also awarded the Gold Award for Language Prefect and the Syms Cup for excellence in English.
To top it all off, Austin also battled glandular fever this year.
The illness left her bedridden and breathless for a few months.
She is moving to Christchurch in the new year to study engineering.
"I do feel like I'm ready to leave and I'm prepared to go on to university, but in some ways I really don't want to leave," Austin said.
"I loved school so much and I'm going to miss everybody, but I'm looking forward to university, moving out of home and challenges that will help make me who I am."
Source: Manawatū Standard
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