A fine and dandy prize for a fine artist who can also ride high in the saddle.
Cheyenne Phyn was named Tapawera Area School’s dux for 2024 on 16 December, an achievement which felt full circle for the 18-year-old, who’d attended the rural school since day dot.
“It was quite a thrilling reaction to be fair, very proud of the people who got me there and myself, I couldn’t be happier,” she says.
“I always sat about the middle of my class, but I wanted to go to university, so I felt having a good academic report is extremely important, and it helps with that experience and getting accepted.
“[Dux is] also something I’ve seen a lot of people being awarded throughout my time at school, and I thought I’d love to be in that position and provide that recognition for someone else.”
Cheyenne has obtained excellence endorsements for NCEA Level 1 and 2 with a clean excellence sweep hinging on her final results.
She’s exemplary in painting, photography, and design, as per her artsy bloodline, and she has competed in many equestrian events throughout South Island.
Her love for horse-related sports has also roped an equine certificate and volunteer work at Riding for the Disabled Richmond.
Cheyenne has also flourished as the school’s head girl and its Board of Trustees student representative.
“Being able to help the school and learn about what goes on behind the closed doors, knowing the routines and systems, it allowed me a very good and new understanding of what goes on to run a school,” she says.
“I volunteer for our school’s yearly magazine The Rivers, which consists of 170 to 180-odd pages showing everything that’s happened to all the students throughout the year, from classrooms and curriculum activities to extra subjects and sports events.”
Cheyenne’s other laurels included a senior student citizenship award and overall academic excellence for Year 13. Blessed by her country upbringing and opportunities at Tapawera Area School, she is poised to ride off into the sunset.
She will brush up on her creativity at the University of Canterbury from 2025 studying towards a Bachelor of Fine Arts degree.
“It’s a career I believe I could do well with and enjoy, it’s also a way of expressing myself,” she says.
“[The university] has one of the oldest art schools in New Zealand, it has a great studio reputation, and it allows people to have their own individual studios once they hit their second year.”
