Luke McConnell

I enjoy an exciting and well-balanced lifestyle, where I am driven to do the best that I can in whatever I set my sights on. I topped my University courses in year 13 while balancing Pasifika community involvement and NZ sporting representation. My active, adventurous and fun-loving personality reflects my involvement in a wide variety of sporting, academic, cultural, social and community interests.

• 2024, 2023, Tutoring Pasifika Engineering students at UC.
• 2024, Cornerstone Church, Volunteering in the welcoming and production teams.
• 2024, Curate Church, Volunteering as a youth leader at Curate Youth group.
• 2024, Running weekly bible studies with my Pasifika brothers.
• 2023, Curate Church, Volunteered at ‘Gifts of Groceries' during Christmas with Curate church. We packed and delivered 2000 grocery packages over 3 days to community groups in need.
• 2022, Tauranga Boys' College, Mentored at the schools' Pasifika Rise at 6 am every Monday morning where we did sports activities with the boys before having a big cooked breakfast. My role was often helping run the games, thanking our guest speaker and/or giving thanks for the food.
• 2022, Tauranga Boys' College, Tutored Pasifika students weekly at the school's Homo Haia homework hub. My main purpose here was to provide academic support in Science, Maths, and Commerce for upcoming assessments.
• 2022, Performing at the Pasifika in the Bay festival where I was able to develop good friendships with the Pasifika boys; we now play Basketball, soccer, and other sports together regularly.