Rotorua’s Kuljyot recognised as a Young Achiever
A young charismatic 17-years-old Sikh boy of Rotorua who made history earlier this year by becoming the Head Boy in a Catholic school, has now been recognised as a ‘Young Achiever’.
Kuljyot Lall, a student of John Paul College received the Rotorua Energy Charitable Trust’s Young Achievers award for leadership, academic and sports achievements last week.
The Rotorua Energy Charitable Trust awards Young Achievers every year for academic, cultural, sporting, leadership and community service achievements.
In the citation, the Trust acknowledged this ‘culturally diverse’ Kuljyot as an ‘excellent leader, academic achiever, and accomplished sportsman’.
Kuljyot, who was born in New Zealand to Indian migrant parents and raised in Rotorua, has many achievements to his credit to make his father, Dr Karandip Lall and mother, Mandip proud.
When Kuljyot became the Head Boy for 2019, it was the first time in Lasallian history that a Sikh boy was selected to lead a Christian school.
And, to celebrate the occasion, his school mates performed a haka which was led by Kuljyot himself.
His aim as the Head Boy was to “promote cultural acceptance and equality among our school and continue to build a supportive educational platform where students are encouraged to aspire and achieve,” says Kuljyot.
Earlier this month, he was sent on a Lasallian leadership course in Sydney.
Kuljyot is aspiring to follow the footsteps of his father and become a doctor. Next year, he will start a degree in biomedical sciences at the Auckland University to pursue a career in medicine.
His excellent track record of studies at school –‘Excellence’in NCEA Levels One, Two and Three, has helped him secure the University of Auckland Top Achiever Scholarship of $20,000 for the first year.
A black-belt in Taekwondo, he is also an avid hockey player and this is his second year captaining the Bay of Plenty U18 hockey team, and for the John Paul College First XI boy’s team for four years. He also played hockey for BOP Indian Sports Club and has coached the junior players at his school.
Diwali celebration at his College last week, included a ‘Bhangra’ dance that he organised with 15 other school prefects.
With a ‘strong foundation of integrity and dedication’ imbibed in his upbringing, Kuljyot is keen to make a difference in the community by promoting acceptance for cultural diversity.