An Otago Polytechnic nursing student is to have a royal moment.

19-year-old Ashleigh Smith is heading to Buckingham Palace on June 29 where she will be presented with a "Queen's Young Leaders Award" for her work with "Sticks 'n' Stones", which aims to empower young people to stand up to bullying.

Smith began her work when three of her schoolmates took their own lives within eight months of each other.

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