Year 10 Lucy Butterfield has won the National GirlBoss STEM award for her work creating a trapline in Akaroa Harbour armed with 35 traps to safeguard the precious little blue penguin population.
Lucy was one of 11 phenomenal young Kiwi women (aged between 11 and 18) who were recognised at the GirlBoss awards. Each winner received a $1,000 cash grant and was celebrated at a glamorous gala at Auckland’s Northern Club last Thursday evening.
Alexia Hilbertidou, Founder of GirlBoss NZ, says, “We had over 530 nominations from Paihia to Invercargill, and it was extremely difficult for the judges to pick. The acceptance rate was 2% – making The GirlBoss Awards the most competitive award scheme in the country.”
Lucy’s award follows on from the Canterbury GirlBoss awards, where Year 11 Millie Edwards was named winner of the STEM award for her dedication and leadership in robotics. The Canterbury awards included a Community GirlBoss award, supported by St Margaret’s College, and recognising winner MacKenzie Wills for having the heart to make a difference and the courage to take a stand through her work with Selwyn Youth Council.
GirlBoss NZ was founded in 2015 to encourage young women to dream big and consider fields in which they are under-represented such as STEM, business, and governance. It is New Zealand’s largest young women network with 17,500 members nationwide.
Learn more about SMC’s support for GirlBoss here.
