Westlake Boys – top honours in region

Axiom celebrates being the 2009 Smales Farm YES Company of the Year. Left to right front: Chun Yuen, Bryce Turner, Caleb Forlong. Back Michael Li, Liam Ogle, Benjamin Tan, Bryan Wong.

An ingenious mathematics based computer game and a user-friendly magnetic window washer saw Westlake Boys High School take out the two top honours at the annual Smales Farm North Shore Regional Awards as part of the Lion Foundation Young Enterprise Scheme (YES).

The student companies, made up of year 12 and 13 students, were presented with awards at a ceremony at North Harbour Stadium in front of an audience of dignitaries, sponsors, mentors, parents and fellow students who participated in this year’s Lion Foundation Young Enterprise Scheme.

Westlake Boys student company Axiom won the Smales Farm North Shore YES Company of the Year for their innovative kiwi-themed computer game, aimed at primary school students, which uses curriculum aligned maths skills. They also won the Quicken NZ Excellence in Information Management and Bartercard Excellence in Communication awards.

Fellow Westlake student company ProDG won the Smales Farm North Shore YES Company of the Year Runner Up with their pragmatic magnetic window washer.

Bill Smale, Smales Farm director and major sponsor of the awards, presented Axiom with a surprise cash prize of $1,200 and ProDG $800. He noted: “With such an abundance of entrepreneurial talent the North Shore will continue to be a hot bed of innovation for NZ well into the future.”

This year more than 370 students, from across North Shore and Rodney secondary schools took part in the popular entrepreneurial programme, facilitated by Enterprise North Shore.
This year’s students are exceptionally talented and motivated according to Terry Hoskins, chief executive of Enterprise North Shore.

“The YES programme is designed to foster students’ entrepreneurial skills giving them the ability and confidence to strive for future business success. We were constantly impressed at the flair and drive of the 2009 YES students who have already proved that they are already entrepreneurs.”

Members of the Axiom team will now represent the North Shore at the Lion Foundation Young Enterprise Scheme National Awards in Wellington on 4th November, 2009.

Award recipients:

Smales Farm North Shore YES Company of the Year – Winner: Axiom, Westlake Boys High School.

Smales Farm North Shore YES Company of the Year Runner Up – Winner: ProDG, Westlake Boys High School.

Enterprise North Shore Teacher of the Year – Winner: Kelly Easton, Rangitoto  College.

Enterprise North Shore Male Young Entrepreneur of the Year – Winner: Paul Minors, Rangitoto College.

Women’s Health at Apollo Female Young Entrepreneur of the Year – Winner: Sammi Le, Pinehurst School.

Quicken NZ Excellence in Information Management – Winner: Axiom, Westlake Boys High School.

Orcon Excellence in Technology – Winner: Gear’d, Kingsway School.

Bayleys North Shore Excellence in Ethics – Winner: Clean Ads, Westlake Boys High School.

Spicers Excellence in Financial Management – Winner: Axcistic, Rangitoto College.

Massey University Excellence in Problem Solving – Winner: Bath Buddies, Long Bay College.

AMES Excellence in Personal Development – Winner: Stuart Dawson, Rangitoto College.

Benefitz Excellence in Motivation – Winner: Le Penseur, Westlake Girls’ High School.

Link Plas Excellence in Production – Winner: Roundabout Dog Collars, Orewa College.

Bartercard Excellence in Communication – Winners: Axcistic, Rangitoto College; Pinnacle Innovations, Rangitoto College; Axiom, Westlake Boys High School; ProDG, Westlake Boys High School; Le Penseur, Westlake Girls High School; Clean Ads, Westlake Boys High School; Roundabout Dog Collars, Orewa College.