Ruby Bray – Countdown Scholarship. Bachelor of Arts Majoring in Sociology – University of Auckland
Sam Christensen – Aurecon Scholarship. Bachelor of Engineering – University of Canterbury
June 9, 2023
Erica Hoskin – Countdown Scholarship. Bachelor of Psychology – University of Auckland
June 9, 2023
Ruby identifies as a lesbian woman and is from West Auckland. Passionate about promoting acceptance for Rainbow people in West Auckland, Ruby has been involved in many projects in the region. Ruby was the youth MP for Te Atatu, where she got to represent her community on a national scale. She also used this platform to create “Rainbow Westies” which is now an annual event.
As the deputy head girl at her school, Ruby performed a speech in a school assembly about religious discrimination against LGBTQ+ people. This led her to be the co-founder of her catholic school’s first-ever rainbow group.
Passionate about poetry, Ruby came second in Word Up and was in the top 10 for National Schools Poetry Awards in 2021. She believes that poetry can be a very powerful way of sharing authenticity and experiences of those within the LGBTQIA+ community.
