Jurnee Leonard

Hei aku rākau karamatamata o te mātauranga nei rā te mihi ki a koutou katoa Ko Jurnee Leonard taku ingoa, he uri whakaheke au o Ngāti Whakaue, Te Arawa whānui. I tipu ake au ki ngā Wai pōkarekare o Te Rotoruanui a Kahumatamomoe. He kaingākau ana ahau ki tēnei o ngā kaupapa whakahirahira o te Ao Karetao Hiko.

Kia Ora, I’m Jurnee Leonard, an 18-year-old from Rotorua of Te Arawa, Ngāti Whakaue, and Ngāti Maniapoto descent. Robotics is my greatest passion, and being selected for the Hyundai Pinnacle Programme is an incredible honour that will help me advance my skills in this field. 

Over the past six years, I’ve competed in numerous robotics competitions, including Aquabots, Epro8, VEX, RoboCup Junior, Evolocity, and SeaPerch. These experiences have allowed me to develop expertise in coding, engineering, and teamwork, often under high-pressure conditions.

One of my proudest achievements was competing with my all-girls team, SAGE, at the 2024 International SeaPerch competition in Washington, D.C., where we placed 17th out of 66 teams. This milestone came after years of dedication, having qualified for the event four times since 2019 but being unable to attend due to COVID-19. The experience was life-changing, solidifying my determination to pursue a career in robotics and engineering.

To share my passion, I founded my school’s first Robotics Club, creating opportunities for students to engage in this exciting field. Mentoring and coaching others has been incredibly rewarding, as I love helping others discover the joy of creating and innovating. Beyond robotics, I’ve excelled academically in NCEA and Cambridge courses, driven by a love of learning and curiosity. Leadership has also been a key part of my journey - I serve as a School Prefect, Peer Support Leader, and active participant in various school clubs. I’m also a member of the Pūtaki Nui Youth Voice Panel, advocating for youth issues in Rotorua. This year, I was honored to be selected as one of Rotorua’s Young Achievers for 2024, for excellence in academics, leadership, and community service.

Looking ahead, I’m excited to pursue a degree in Engineering with a focus on Mechatronics at the University of Canterbury. Robotics combines my love for problem-solving, innovation, and making a difference. I am deeply grateful for the Hyundai Pinnacle Programme, which will help me continue pushing boundaries, connect with inspiring peers and mentors, and take my passion for robotics to new heights.