Chennoah Walford has been awarded the Robert Anderson Memorial Award by Mayor Stuart Crosby this week.
The trophy, a wooden art piece in the form of an open book is awarded annually by Amnesty International Tauranga Moana for outstanding contributions to human rights, peace and social justice.
Dr Anderson was a tireless worker for social justice. He gave lectures, published numerous articles and wrote several books on a wide range of issues.
Dr Anderson's widow, Jean, attended the function along with Miss Walford's family and friends and members from Amnesty International Tauranga Moana.
Miss Walford is the fifth recipient of the Robert Anderson award. Others recipants include the Amnesty Group at Tauranga Girl's College, Graham Cameron of the Merivale Community Centre, Mona Hamilton and Terry Molloy.
Miss Walford is currently studying toward a conjoint LLB and BA, majoring in political science and international relations.
She is serving as Equity Officer at Victoria University's Student Association which enables her to work with identity based representative groups to help tackle equity problems within the university.
Miss Walford is on the Board of Amnesty International Aotearoa New Zealand representing a "youth voice" and is engaged in a programme in which she shadows a board member of the International Secretariat as well as engaging with Amnesty International's youth leaders across the world.