2026 Altrusa Youth Awards

The Altrusa Club of Hamilton hosts the Altrusa Youth Awards each year for Year 12 students who have demonstrated courtesy, attitude and initiative, sportsmanship, community work in and outside of school, and scholastic improvement (attitude and application to school work)

This year, we had a large number of students who were nominated, all of whom displayed the qualities above. The Altrusa Award recipient this year is Troy Poole. Troy and his family will attend an award ceremony in October.

The shortlisted nominees were:

• Ted Kingsford
• Madeline Butler
• Liam Hodgson
• Thomas Luxton
• Julia Zhou
• Troy Poole

All the students not only had the characteristics above but were also outstanding in their contributions to the wider community through service, academics, and sporting achievements. 

Citation:

Troy Poole is an exceptional member of the St Paul’s Collegiate community who consistently demonstrates outstanding character, humility, politeness, resilience and a genuine commitment to serving and uplifting others. His dedication to leadership and service is evident in his mentoring of younger Scouts, his involvement on the National Council for Scouts NZ, and his participation in Over the Fence, Charity Days, Hospital Chaplaincy, the Refugee Orientation Programme, St Paul’s Mission Outreach and Service Council, and World Vision initiatives. 

Troy is also a highly accomplished and diverse co-curricular student, representing the school in Hockey, Football and Athletics, while contributing to Concert Band and Big Band and competing in Debating, Mooting and the Ethics Olympiad. His leadership and intellectual capability have been recognised internationally through his participation in the Yale Young Global Scholars programme. Academically, Troy is an outstanding scholar, pursuing Excellence Endorsement at Level 2 while undertaking Level 3 subjects, and has achieved an Outstanding Scholarship in History, Most Outstanding Student recognition, top-in-subject awards across four disciplines, a Top 100 placing in the National Economics Competition, second place in the school in the National Science Quiz, and top marks in university-level Advanced Placement examinations. 

Despite overcoming significant challenges, including a fractured hip, Troy has shown remarkable resilience and determination, while his strong connection to the outdoors through Tihoi has inspired him to pursue his Duke of Edinburgh Gold Award. Troy exemplifies the values of St Paul’s Collegiate through his generosity, intellectual curiosity, leadership, service and unwavering commitment to making a positive difference to those around him.