Congratulations to the recipients of the 2024 Youthmark Young Achiever Awards: Will Cairns, Thomas Spain, Magnus Jamieson, Charlie Hopcroft, James McLeay, and Lucas Jennings.

Will Cairns

Will Cairns exemplifies determination and focus, achieving success across academic, sporting, and leadership domains at Southland Boys' High School. Will's leadership skills have been recognized throughout his time at school, culminating in his appointments as Deputy Head Boy and Captain of the 1st XI Football team. His quiet determination and ability to inspire others have been hallmarks of his leadership. 

Will's prowess on the football field is unparalleled. As a four-year member of the 1st XI, he made history as the first capped football player at Southland Boys’. His contributions have earned him the Kevin Baker Footballer of the Year and the Linwood Cup MVP awards in consecutive years. Will’s talents were further acknowledged at the Ole FC South Island camp, where he was named MVP, attracting the attention of the academy in Wellington. He has represented Southland and Southern United in various age groups and participated in football camps across New Zealand. 

In addition to football, Will has showcased his sporting versatility in cricket, representing both Southland and the SBHS 1st XI. His dedication extends beyond the field; he has earned NCEA Excellence endorsements at both Level 1 and 2 and was inducted into the SBHS Club, receiving his Academic Cap in 2023. 

In 2025, Will plans to attend the University of Canterbury to pursue a double major in Law and Health Science.  

Thomas Spain

Thomas has achieved a lot throughout his years at Southland Boys’ High as he has balanced sporting, leadership and academic pursuits. Thomas was appointed Head Boy for 2024 by demonstrating what it means to be a Southland Boys' High student.  

Thomas spread his sporting talents across different areas.  He has been a big part in the 1st V basketball team for 4 years and captained Under 15 and Under 17 Southland Basketball teams. Thomas also won a Secondary Southland Table Tennis title while at the school and was involved in hockey for two years.  

2024 saw Thomas appointed as vice-captain of the 1st XV as they travelled to Japan to compete in the Sanix world rugby youth tournament after winning a national title the year before. Thomas has been a part of the team for 3 years and received his cap in 2023. That year Thomas was also selected for Highlanders Under 18 and won a national title with his Under 18 Southland Touch team.  

Alongside leadership and sporting commitments Thomas achieved Excellence and Merit endorsement through NCEA Level 1 and 2.  

Next year, Thomas is planning to study Sport Science at Otago University.  

Magnus Jamieson

Magnus began his journey at Southland Boys’ High School in 2018 as a Year 7 student, determined to seize every academic and sporting opportunity. His dedication and social responsibility earned him a Prefect tie and the role of House Captain for Pearce House. 

Magnus's true passion is cycling, where he has represented the school for many years on both the track and road. His journey began with a 3rd place finish in the National School’s Road Race in 2018. Since then, Magnus has focused on track cycling, achieving five national championships, in the Elimination, Kilo, and Team Sprint, and twice in the Maddison.  He has won seven individual Oceania medals as well as two team Oceania championship titles within just two years. His exceptional performance saw him represent New Zealand in the 2023 Junior Track Cycling World Championships in Cali, Colombia, and the 2024 Junior Track Cycling World Championships in Luoyang, China. 

Academically, Magnus gained an overall excellence endorsement in Level 1 and a Merit endorsement in 2023. His hard work led to his induction into the prestigious SBHS club in 2022, along with receiving an academic cap and three sporting Blues awards. 

In the future, Magnus aims to continue developing his skills to become a professional track cyclist and ultimately represent New Zealand in the Olympics.  

Charlie Hopcroft 

Charlie is the ultimate example of an all-rounder - someone who excels in a range of areas, from the sporting field to academia.   

Charlie gained NCEA Excellence endorsements in both Level 1 and 2 and alongside his Academic Cap in 2022 and 2023.  One of Charlie’s passions is Art.  He gained Excellence for both Art boards in Year 11 and 12 and in 2023 received a Blues award for Visual Arts. 

On the sports field, Charlie has represented the school in Hockey, being an integral member of the First XI for five years and becoming the youngest cap recipient for number of Interschools played by a student in 2023.  Charlie has also represented SBHS in Cricket, again gaining his cap for Cricket and playing in the First XI for two years.  His success and hard work across both sports has led him to being selected in Southland representative teams.   

Charlie has become one of the very few boys at SBHS to have gained three caps and in 2024 and aims to be the first student in history to have gained four caps – two in sport and two in academia.  He was named Sporting Prefect in 2024.  

Charlie plans to study Surveying at Otago University in 2025. 

James McLeay

James has achieved exceptional success from the classroom to the running track, driven by his unwavering diligence and determination. His commitment to service and leadership was recognized in 2024 when he was named Deputy Head Boy. 

James' academic achievements are extraordinary. He earned NCEA Excellence Endorsements in every subject for Levels 1 and 2, accumulating 230 excellence credits. His dedication led to his induction into the prestigious SBHS club.  

A devoted public speaker, James won the school speech competitions from Year 7 to 10 and played a pivotal role in the first SBHS Junior and Senior debating teams to win a Southland Championship. 

James has represented SBHS in many sports including Cross Country, Triathlon, Basketball, and Athletics. However, his achievements in athletics are particularly noteworthy. In 2024, he won the national U20 mile championships, securing a top 10 U19 world ranking, and earned a bronze medal at the U20 Australian National Track and Field Championships. He also represented New Zealand at the World Secondary School Cross Country Championships in Kenya, earning a 5th place in the team’s event. His performances have earned him a spot on the New Zealand team to compete in the 1500 meters at the 2024 World Under 20 Athletics Championships in Peru. 

In 2025 James plans to attend Princeton University to continue his academic and athletics pursuits. 

Lucas Jennings

Lucas Jennings is a dedicated and determined individual who has achieved success across academic, sporting, and leadership domains at Southland Boys’ High School. His outstanding leadership qualities led to his appointment as Prefect and earned him the KJ Bowie Citizenship Award for exemplifying school values. Lucas’s natural leadership has inspired his peers and fostered a culture of excellence at the school. 

In the sporting domain, Lucas excels with unwavering perseverance. His accomplishments in Water Polo include selection into the New Zealand High Performance Squad, showcasing his prowess at the highest levels. Additionally, he has made significant contributions to the SBHS Rugby team, participating in the First XV, and representing at a Rugby World Youth tournament in Japan.  

Academically, Lucas has achieved NCEA Excellence endorsements at both Level 1 and 2, and was honoured with induction into the SBHS Academic Club, receiving his Academic Cap in 2022. 

Looking forward, Lucas plans to pursue Civil Engineering at the University of Canterbury, starting in 2025.