Ruhith Pathirana – RNZCT / AUT Scholarship. Bachelor of Design, Majoring in Fashion Design at AUT

Ruhith was a leader of the Mount Maunganui College Gay-Straight Alliance, a member of the 2020 Mount Maunganui College student leadership team where he held the role of Executive Leader and a member of other school councils.

Ruhith enjoys volleyball, he has been part of school lip sync competitions and was a willing participant in school Athletics Days and Kapa Haka competitions. Outside school, he volunteered his time with Kai Aroha, a non-profit organisation that provides food and necessities for those in need and has given his time to help with costume design for the Gillian Moore School of Dance and has designed and created beautiful and detailed garments for a number of fashion competitions.

His academic record is outstanding. He gained both his NCEA Level 1 and Level 2 with an Excellence endorsement, alongside subject endorsements in Level 2 Visual Art Design, Technology Soft Materials and English (with Excellence) and Mathematics and Education for Sustainability (with Merit). Placed second in the Year 11 Woven and Twisted category; in the same competition in 2019 he gained a first place in the Senior Red-Carpet category, was second overall in the Craftsmanship division and third overall in the Supreme Design category. He won the Gown of the Year in 2019 and was awarded a photoshoot with photographer David Dunham. Placed second in the Senior Creative category of the 2019 national HETTANZ Fashion Awards.

Ruhith is a mature, empathetic and genuine person. He will be a positive influence on, and an asset to any organisation he is a part of. We wish him all the best and look forward to hearing of his future successes.