It’s not everyday students are awarded the dux award on their birthday.
But when Ellie Martin’s name was called out as the Hauraki Plains College Dux for 2025 on October 30, her response was fitting: “well, this is a nice 18th birthday surprise”.
The 18-year-old award winner, who received the Lynne Penrhys-Evans Memorial Prize and Leonard Cup for 2025, said “my heart definitely skipped a beat”.
The high achiever, who was also a 2025 head student and oversaw environmental and service councils, said she was really surprised as she was up against “tough competition”.
“There’s lots of other people with a similar work ethic as me and who would be just as deserving. I honestly forgot it was my birthday until I was reminded when given the award,” she said. “It was definitely an unforgettable birthday.”
The top student, who studied biology, chemistry, physics, media studies, English and calculus, told The Profile she planned to study at the University of Otago in 2026.
“I’ll be doing first year health science with the hope of eventually progressing into a field like medicine,” she said.
As part of the dux award, Ellie received a $1000 cash prize, which would go towards her University costs, she said.
“Before prize giving I also received a $9500 Leaders of Tomorrow scholarship at Otago University and by achieving Dux I am eligible to get another $3000 on top of that from Otago University which goes towards my accommodation.”
One way she was able to stay motivated and work hard was through the support of friends.
“We’ve always pushed each other and aimed for excellence, yet remained humble.
“Surrounding myself with people who have similar goals and values has definitely helped me stay motivated,” she said.
It was clear the achievement meant something to Ellie. “I’m just really thrilled. It’s a reflection that hard work does pay off and becomes a valuable addition to my CV. It’s shown me the value of setting big goals, working hard for them, and believing in myself through setbacks.”
One thing she learned from being a leader was that it took risks.
“This year, there were many times when I put forward ideas that didn’t quite work out. It can be disappointing when things fall short, but I’ve learned that part of putting yourself out there with your thoughts and suggestions is accepting that they might be challenged or even rejected.
“It’s taught me to stay authentic and have a laugh if you can,” she said.
Among her greatest supporters were her sister, parents, and friend and HPC peer Orson Coats.
“He’s got a very busy work schedule but even gave up time to help me achieve excellence in media studies, supporting me through a documentary I made about his passion for politics and his role as the Board of Trustees student rep,” she said.
Outside her school studies, Ellie said she loved to stay active and spend time outdoors involved in sports such as the First XI football and cricket teams, and also Youth Search and Rescue for the past three years.
When it came to leaving behind a legacy, Ellie knew what she wanted.
“Over the years, I’ve built friendships with students in the years below, and I hope they feel inspired to step into leadership roles themselves.
“Leadership can be hard work at times, but it’s incredibly rewarding and gives you the chance to share your ideas and be a positive role model,” she said.
“I don’t want to be remembered for the badges I wore or the titles I held. I want to be remembered for the moments that mattered – the kindness, the laughter, the way I showed up for people,” she said.
“If in some small way, I made someone feel seen, supported, or inspired, then that’s the legacy I hope to leave behind.”
Meanwhile, Jaskereet Randhawa and Maggie O’Neil received the Proxime Accessit to dux award.
