These Goal Setter - Ki Te Ao Mārama Awards recognise tertiary students studying in the Wellington region who have shown outstanding achievement and leadership while overcoming significant barriers and adversity to accomplish their goals and education as a pathway to a better future.
Five worthy recipients each received their Award thanks to the generous sponsorship of: Kirk-Burnnand family; Mike and Sue Selvadurai; Nicole Barker and Mark Ratcliffe; Waterford Security (https://waterford.co.nz/); Darvill Mellors (https://www.darvillmellors.co.nz/); David McLay.
We also thank Bateson Publishing Limited and Lindsay Chitty.
Award winners 2025
Hope Cotton
Hope (she/her) is studying English literature and political communications at Victoria University and is an advocate for the deaf, disabled and LGBTQIA+ communities. Despite struggles with accessibility and multiple chronic illnesses, Hope is excelling academically. She has made the Dean’s List twice, received the Harold Large Prize for English Renaissance Literature, and is a president of the Disabled Students Association. Hope petitioned Parliament for a legal captioning standard and increased media accessibility. She is an aspiring poet.
Miri Bayne
Miri (they/he) is studying architecture at Victoria University. Miri came out as transgender in 2013. Vulnerable and without family support or education, they found themself consistently in unsafe environments and financial instability. However with the support provided by Victoria University, Miri felt safe to start transitioning, which has improved their life immeasurably. Their past experiences have given them a keen sense of empathy and a drive for social justice, which they hope to bring into their architecture.
Stefan Trybula
Stefan is studying for a Bachelor of Science with Honours in psychology, specialising in neuroscience at Victoria University. He tutors psychology, contributed to research, works as a teaching assistant as well as volunteering at Hutt Hospital. Throughout this, he has had many personal challenges, including his mother’s hospitalisation, family members’ struggles with addiction, caring for his grandmother, and taking responsibility for the care of his youngest sister.
Lee Bravestone
Lee (they/them) is an experienced LGBTQIA+ activist and advocate. Since moving to Aotearoa in 2017, Lee’s activism now focuses on academia and helping their community in a new, systemic way. Currently, Lee is doing a PhD on bringing queer theory into sexism research with the goal of creating a new, more inclusive concept of sexist ideology. During the course of their study, Lee has encountered significant hardship including infertility, divorce and prejudice.
Biruk was raised in Ethiopia and moved to New Zealand in 2016 with big dreams and a suitcase full of ambition. Since then, he has been on a journey to become a doctor ̶ balancing medical school, part-time work, community work, and the daily adventure of raising his three teenage brothers ̶ an experience which has provided excellent training in crisis management. Biruk is on track to become the first doctor of Ethiopian origin to graduate from a New Zealand medical school.
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