15 Fraser Coast’s former high school duxes and where they are now
From rocket scientists to musical geniuses, to climbing the corporate ladder, the Fraser Coast’s high school duxes continue to kick goals. See where 15 duxes are now.
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Surviving high school is an achievement enough, let alone finishing at the top of your class.
Take a look at where these 15 former high school duxes from across the Fraser Coast region are now.
Hugh Stewart, 22
Since graduating from St Mary’s College in 2018, Hugh Stewart has completed a Bachelor’s degree in Business (Marketing) at QUT, and landed himself a job as a talent acquisition partner for information services and technology at Rio Tinto, a global mining group.
Mr Stewart is also completing his Juris Doctor in Law - equivalent to a master’s degree - with the goal of becoming a corporate lawyer, ideally staying close to the technology sector.
Over the last two years, Mr Stewart has also dedicated his spare time to MMA fighting, and has recently won his first fight.
Thomas Allingham, 31
Top of his class at Fraser Coast Anglican College in 2009, Thomas Allingham went on to study a Bachelor of Engineering with a major in Civil Engineering at the University of Queensland.
During his degree, Mr Allingham landed himself an undergraduate position as a civil engineer at QHD, and was offered a postgraduate position with them.
Mr Allingham has since worked as a civil engineer for WMAwater, the Brisbane City Council, and has now taken up the position as principal engineer at Mott MacDonald.
Anthony Simmons, 23
After leaving high school with an OP1 and being awarded dux of the 2017 class of Fraser Coast Anglican College, Anthony Simmons graduated from the University of Queensland with a Bachelor in Computer Science, majoring in data science.
Mr Simmons has always had a passion for technology and is now working as a consultant developer at Thoughtworks, a technology consultancy located in Brisbane.
“I’m a software engineer, who works with different clients from some of the big four banks, multiple national retail companies as well as local government funded or non-profit research organisations,” he said.
“I am a part of a team that help build and extend software solutions, whether that be with websites or applications.”
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Samanvay Karambhe, 27
From a Fraser Coast dux to a rocket scientist and YouTube content creator, Samanvay Karambhe has come very far in his career following his graduation from Fraser Coast Anglican College in 2012.
Mr Karambhe completed a bachelor’s degree from the University of Sydney, in Aeronautical Engineering (Space) (Advanced Engineering), Aeronautics and Astronautics, and has since gone on to work in multiple roles from aeronautical and aerospace engineering to now working in the data science profession as a deployment strategist for Palantir Technologies in Sydney.
“I have worn many hats including that of a data scientist, start-up co-founder, rocket engineer at the German Space Agency, space camp leader, USYD representative at UN Youth Assembly and a language teacher,” Mr Karambhe said.
Mr Karambhe is also engaged to his girlfriend of four years, and is getting married in December.
Peter Blyth, 54
More than three decades on from becoming Maryborough State High School’s dux in 1989, Peter Blyth has become the regional head of engineering for a consulting and software development company in Brisbane, Concentrix Catalyst.
After high school, Mr Blyth started a double degree in electronic system engineering and computer science at QUT, but ultimately decided to focus his degree on computer science, specifically software engineering.
“My career has been predominantly in software development, and I’ve worked for quite a large number of organisations,” he said.
“I’ve got a very broad experience across a lot of different industries.”
Mr Blyth is also a father of two adult sons and has just celebrated his 32nd year wedding anniversary with his wife.
Liana van Teijlingen, 21
Receiving the Caltex “Best All-Rounder” award, multiple subject prizes and topping her class as Fraser Coast Anglican College’s dux of 2018, Liana van Teijlingen left high school with a bright future ahead of her.
Miss van Teijlingen graduated from the University of Queensland in 2022 with a Bachelor of Engineering (Honours) majoring in Computer Engineering, and has since moved to Sydney to pursue a role as a graduate electronics engineer at Thales.
Now that Miss van Teijlingen has started her career she is looking forward to being able to spend more time on herself.
“The start of my career is a change of pace from the last 10 or so years of letting my studies consume my life,” she said.
Angel Schiemann, 19
Even though Angel Schiemann became the 2021 dux for Aldridge State High School and achieved many awards and bursaries, she said that her greatest triumph was actually making it through the school year.
“I went through a lot with my mental health, I felt burnout and was ready to give up, then I ended up forcing myself to do it and actually came out on top,” she said.
After graduating, Miss Schiemann took up a double degree in biomedical science and law at the Queensland University of Technology, but decided that the degree wasn’t for her and switched to studying a bachelor of pharmacy (honours) a year later.
She is currently planning on going into further study once completing her degree.
Jared Miles, 32
Awarded the St Mary‘s College Dux in 2008, Jared Miles went on to complete a Bachelor of Pharmacy with Honours at the University of Queensland, and became a registered pharmacist working at Good Price Pharmacy Warehouse for six years.
During this time, Mr Miles took up his PhD in Medicinal and Pharmaceutical Chemistry, and began tutoring classes at UQ.
Since obtaining his PhD, Mr Miles has now become a teaching and research academic lecturer at UQ.
Ethan Makaresz, 22
After graduating from Xavier Catholic College in 2018, Ethan Makaresz has completed his Bachelors in Advanced science and mathematics with honours, at the University of Queensland.
Mr Makaresz is currently working on his PhD in physics at UQ, while tutoring for the university’s School of mathematics and physics.
William Heckels, 19
Since achieving the 2021 dux for St James Lutheran College, William Heckels has started a Bachelor’s degree in Biomedical science at the University of Queensland.
Throughout his undergraduate studies, he also plans to complete the GAMSAT exam and enter UQ’s Doctor of Medicine program.
Shreya Tekumalla, 21
After graduating from St James Lutheran College with an OP1 and achieving dux in 2019, Shreya Tekumalla began her studies at the University of Melbourne with a Bachelor’s degree in Biomedicine.
“It was during the second year of my undergraduate degree that I became interested in medicine, and, by my third year, I knew that I wanted to pursue a career as a doctor,” she said.
After completing her degree, Miss Tekumalla has now entered the doctor of medicine program at the University of Melbourne.
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Jude Foster, 22
After graduating from St James Lutheran College with an OP1 and achieving dux in 2018, Jude Foster has began studying a Bachelor of mathematics at the University of Queensland, and has as also become a chess tutor for schools in his spare time.
Eli Grieger, 23
St James Lutheran College 2017 dux Eli Grieger is currently studying Secondary Education at the Queensland University of Technology, majoring in Physics and Physical Education, as well as working part time at the Mt Binga Outdoor Education Centre.
Elle Kounelis, 25
Since graduating from St James Lutheran College and achieving dux in 2015, Elle Kounelis has since completed a Bachelor of Medical and Health science with Honours and Dean’s Scholar, at the University of Wollongong, NSW.
She then worked as a medical laboratory technician at 4Cyte Pathology for two years, but decided to change career paths.
“For the past year and a half, I have been working as a trades assistant ‘chick sparky’ with most of the work being in residential and commercial, and sometimes industrial,” she said.
“It’s been a journey since graduating from Year 12 and I look forward to where life continues to take me.”
Meg Burstow, 27
After graduating from Aldridge State High School at the top of her class in 2013, Meg Burstow has pursued a career as a classically trained jazz pianist, performer, accompanist, and educator based in Brisbane.
During her senior year of high school Ms Burstow achieved an OP 1 and was awarded Griffith University’s Sir Samuel Griffith Scholarship which allowed her to study a Bachelor of Music at Queensland Conservatorium Griffith University.
Since completing her Bachelor’s degree, Ms Burstow has become a piano teacher and choral conductor at St Laurence's College, and is a sessional accompanist at the Queensland Conservatorium Griffith University.
According to her LinkedIn profile, she is a skilled player in a broad range of styles including classical, jazz, pop, and musical theatre, and is a sought-after pianist for weddings, corporate events, and session musician work.
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