Year 12 Ipswich school captains reveal their plans for 2022
Whether it be environmental sustainability, fostering ‘family spirit’ among students, or promoting mental health, these 40 Year 12 college captains have huge plans for their final year of schooling. MEET THE SENIORS CAPTAINS OF 2022.
Ipswich
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The start of a new school year represents an opportunity for young leaders to pave the way for fellow members of their college community — to inspire change, build resilience, and foster a sense of belonging.
Forty school captains from across the Ipswich region have shared their goals for 2022 and how they hope to achieve them.
Meet the next generation of leaders and read about their big plans.
BELLBIRD PARK STATE SECONDARY COLLEGE
Falefia-o-alii- Isalei Pasene
College captain Falefia-o-alii- Isalei Pasene, 17, said she hopes to have a positive impact on her student body and college community this year — Bellbird Park State Secondary College’s year of ‘belonging’.
“I hope to build and lead an environment for students which is safe and inclusive for all,” she said.
“As the inaugural college captain, I look forward to guiding the college and developing a legacy of safety and inclusion for all that our future leaders can build on in years to come.”
Benny Clarke
The school’s second college captain Benny Clarke, 16, said he was looking forward to building an environment that supports students’ personal growth and learning journey.
“I’m also excited to work in consultation with our staff and fellow captain Fia to promote an environment where students are unified regardless of race, religion and/or gender,” he said.
“I am so excited to be a part of the first step in the building our school’s legacy and am optimistic that the pathways we make today will offer limitless opportunities tomorrow.”
BOONAH STATE HIGH SCHOOL
Annabel Saxby
Annabel Saxby, 16, said she remembers looking up to the school captains that came before her and “wanting to be them”.
“Now that I am in the same position they were I hope to be a role model to others,” she said.
“During 2022, I hope to inspire the students at my school to be involved with the community and to be environmentally sustainable.”
She said she will lead by example and implement composting, promotional posters, and engage with her fellow students in an effort to achieve her goals.
Tim Freeman
Seventeen-year-old Tim Freeman said he was looking forward to supporting his fellow captains in 2022 and engaging with younger students and rising leaders.
“This year I aim to create unity between the senior and junior leaders of the school and inspire them to continue down the rewarding path of leadership,” he said.
Holly McLaurin
Holly McLaurin, 17, said her new role was an opportunity to promote participation in all areas of school and community and demonstrate Boonah State High School’s core values.
“Many years ago my mum, one of my greatest inspirations, shared the phrase ‘hard work pays off’ with me,” she said.
“I have carried this throughout my life, trying my best in every venture whether it be my schoolwork, sports, or jobs.”
She said she would also like to focus on promoting mental health within her school as it was a “critical issue globally”.
Nic Miller
Nicholas Miller, 17, said it was his loved ones who motivated him to apply for the role of school captain last year.
“This year my goal is to be a good role model to my peers by promoting participation in all areas across school, displaying the school’s core values of being respectful, responsible, and a learner,” Nic said.
BUNDAMBA STATE SECONDARY COLLEGE
William Hartley
Bundamba State Secondary College school captains William Hartley and Steffany Krause, both 17 years old, are accomplished people who are passionate about their school and inspired to throw themselves into their leadership roles.
“Passion. Pride. And a pure love of what I do. As a young leader, this has been the dominating trio of emotions that have driven me to cultivate my community at Bundamba over the past few years,” William said.
“Already this year, I have been leading multiple student committees to create positive change in my college and am determined to continue building a better Bundamba for my fellow students over the course of 2022.”
William plans to undertake a Bachelor of Business Management after he graduates this year.
Steffany Krause
Fellow captain Steffany said she had aspired to be a college leader since her primary school days, and her family and teachers encouraged her to pursue her dream “all the way”.
“Early on in my school journey, I noticed that many of my peers’ attitudes to learning were sub-par, and far too many lacked a belief in their ability to excel in life,” Steffany said.
“Whether because of their lower socio-economic upbringing, or just a need for positive influence, this inspired me to uplift the mindsets of my peers. I love listening to everyone and encouraging them to be the very best they can be, because I strongly believe that when people believe in themselves, they can be and do anything.
“Throughout 2022, I’m striving to continue encouraging and inspiring my peers in every way possible, and want to build on the values that our school stands for. After graduating, I’m aiming to pursue my passion developed throughout school, and study a Bachelor of Law to continue standing up for others.”
IPSWICH GIRLS’ GRAMMAR SCHOOL
Eliza Carniel and Carley Grieve
Head girls Eliza Carniel and Carly Grieve said they were looking forward to carrying on traditions and getting students involved in all aspects of school life.
“I love my school, and I am most looking forward to seeing the students get involved in all aspects of school life and make the most of the wonderful opportunities our school has,” Carly said.
“I hope to strengthen a culture in which students can participate in a variety of activities to strengthen bonds between grades and make lifelong friends.”
Carly said she believed the most important quality in a good leader was their ability to communicate and get along with everyone in the school community, from students to teachers and parents — creating a safe space for everyone to feel appreciated.
Fellow head girl Eliza said she was eager to carry on the traditions established by the girls who had come before her.
“I am excited to lead this amazing school of proud, confident, well-educated young women and contribute to a lasting legacy in this year’s 130th chapter,” she said.
“I hope to grow and support an atmosphere of unified energy and unrivalled school spirit. It is this spirit that will manifest itself in our school war cry and give us goosebumps as we run through the spirit tunnel just before QGSSSA events. It is this spirit that will see our amazing girls enthusiastically participating in all aspects of school life.
“We are so fortunate to attend such a wonderful school, so I hope to encourage each girl to make the most of every opportunity while upholding our school’s timeless values of diligence, excellence, respect, integrity and care.”
IPSWICH GRAMMAR SCHOOL
Ned Kendall
Ned Kendall, Ipswich Grammar School’s 2022 captain, said his goals as leader were to be inclusive and to show the boys at his school that “you do not have to be the best at everything but to give everything to what you try”.
“I was eager to start the new year and see all the new and current boys arrive in front of the Great Hall ready to begin or continue their high school journey,” Ned said.
“2022 will be one of my toughest years but I am ready for the challenge. I have worked hard over the last five years and have enjoyed being a part of everything I could.
“I love getting around to support the boys at weekend events and even having chats at lunchtime with the younger grades about nutrition, fitness and where they see themselves at my age.”
He said he was looking forward to embracing the camaraderie of the 159th graduating class of IGS and leaving a mark on the lives of younger students.
IPSWICH STATE HIGH SCHOOL
Grace Hargreaves
School captain Grace Hargreaves, 16, is following in the footsteps of past siblings who have led and represented Ipswich State High School and is passionate about introducing the community to new ideas.
“Her primary aim is to provide help and support to her fellow students to make their future years of school more enjoyable and inclusive,” a school spokeswoman said.
“Grace is passionate about bringing change to the school community through building positive relationships with her peers and being an active role model within the community.”
TJ Maihai
Fellow captain TJ Maihia, 16, is said to be bringing an “energy and flair” to the school community through his leadership style that “supports, encourages, and enlivens” students.
“He loves to build positive new connections with students and help them become better versions of themselves,” a school spokeswoman said.
“TJ’s passion and motivation is to help the students of The Ipswich State High School to be more open to life’s possibilities and to look outside of the box.
“His style and charisma as well as his motivational and inspirational style is an asset to our school leadership team in 2022.”
LOCKYER DISTRICT HIGH SCHOOL - Helena Hurren, Adam McFarlane, Alyssa Roser, and Royce Goutam.
Lockyer District High School 2022 leaders Adam, Helena, Royce, and Alyssa are all thrilled about their new roles and excited for what is to come in their final year.
“During this year I plan to make the transition into high school for the new year 7s as smooth as it can be, as well as improving the student voice through having a more diverse and inclusive group of willing leaders,” Adam said.
“Additionally, I aspire to improve my own leadership skills and help develop that of those new arising leaders that are coming through the school as we speak.”
Helena, 17, said being school captain was helping her prepare for the next chapter of her life.
“My initiative this year, is to place a greater focus on student wellbeing, work towards becoming a more environmentally sustainable school and make our leadership team more inclusive; instead of following traditional ideals of having two female captains and two male captains as I believe a leader should be chosen based on ability rather than gender,” she said.
Royce, 16, said he decided to apply to be a school leader in the hopes he could motivate others, inspire them, and “seize any opportunity to celebrate”.
“I want people to recognise the diversity of ethnic groups, the diversity of talent, and the achievement of students. I've realised throughout the course of my high school years that time passes by rapidly, so make the most of every moment and make it memorable,” Royce said.
“As a school leader, the very least I aspire to do is to serve as an excellent role model and to take the time to inspire others to try new things.”
Vice-captain Alyssa, 17, said she was looking forward to being someone who people feel comfortable going to about any issues, personal or school-related, they may be facing.
“I would love to help create a culture of empathy, encouragement, and respect within our school and ensure that every person feels adequately supported and like they belong as part of a community,” she said.
“As part of this, I endeavour to establish a study group which focuses on mental wellness and healthy studying techniques to support students both academically and emotionally amid the stress of high school.”
LOWOOD STATE HIGH SCHOOL — Lilly Standen, Isaac Phipps, Yash Mudaliar, and Darcie Turner
Lowood State High School’s four school captains have hopes to continue the growth of their school’s culture this year and make it a “more fun and safer” place for students.
Lilly, 16, said she would do this by continuing to run ‘house spirit’ events on Fridays and provide care packs and breakfast for students on Tuesday and Thursday mornings.
“As a school captain I am looking forward to being more interactive within the school and the community,” she said.
“This can be done with external fundraisers and other community events such as Anzac Day. I would also like to expand our relation with the Somerset Council to help our community recover from the recent flood events.”
Isaac, 17, said he wanted to work with the local community to build the name of Lowood State High School.
“As a school captain I hope to achieve, along with the assistance of my fellow leaders, a school where everything and everyone is accepted,” he said.
“Being a small country school, strong traditionalised views and operations of the school are in place, but I am confident this year we can help start the change that is needed now and in the future.”
Fellow school captain Yash, 16, said his main goal this year was to “leave a positive impact”.
“This year, as well as the past couple years, has been challenging for all of us, and it doesn’t go unnoticed that the students are struggling with the uncertainty,” Yash said.
“I hope to achieve a good relationship with the students and teachers at this school and help them create a fun and enjoyable environment.”
Darcie, 17, said his priority was making sure everyone within the school is “treated with acceptance and respect despite our differences”.
“As a leader I will encourage this culture within the school and by working together we can provide a safe and supportive environment where we all have an opportunity to grow,” she said.
“The role of school captain to me is more than just a title or badge, but a chance to make a positive influence on everyone within the school.”
REDBANK PLAINS STATE HIGH SCHOOL
Alison Holmes
Alison said it had been a privilege to watch previous school captains lead the community and she was excited to “carry on their legacies by fulfilling the responsibilities and duties of school captain”.
“As a school captain, I hope to enhance my listening skills because this will assist my personal growth and help me be more open to feedback,” she said.
“As for the students attending Redbank Plains State High School, I aim to make a difference, whether big or small, in my school community alongside my other prefects and captains.”
ST PETER CLAVER COLLEGE
TJ Toeleiu
Captain TJ Toeleiu, 17, said he was most excited about being an advocate for his college community in 2022.
“I hope to live by my inaugural speech in which I promised to foster family spirit, act to include and be someone students seek out in times of stress,” TJ said.
“As our college is uniquely diverse, I also hope to foster an inclusive environment where every student feels comfortable and understands that every day is a new day in which we can begin again.”
Lexi Finch
Lexi Finch, 17, said 2022 is “by far the most nerve-racking but exciting” year she has experienced to date.
“To be able to lead our college is an absolute honour that I am ready to put my heart and soul into,” she said.
“My motivation for being a leader has always been to help, positively influence, and support my fellow students at the college.”
Nacollie Papua
Nacollie Papua, 16, said he was most looking forward to being someone who students can look up to and be inspired by.
“My goal this year in 2022 for St Peter Claver is to be more inclusive, to be more inspirational and to help others step out of their comfort zone,” he said.
Saskia Ciprian
Fourth St Peter Claver College captain Saskia Ciprian, 17, said she would bring her strengths — including caring for those around her and making people feel welcome — to her role this year.
“My goal for 2022 is to support and inspire our students,” she said.
“I want the college to be a safe place for all students and staff. Each student’s individuality should be celebrated and respected.”
ST PETERS LUTHERAN COLLEGE SPRINGFIELD — Joel L and Luci G and Purvie D and Lauren J
Vice captains Purvie D, 16, and Lauren J, 16, hope that as leaders they can make a difference and foster a sense of community.
“My main objective this year is to give back to the community,” Purvie said.
Purvie plans to continue to “evolve into a better person each day and tackle what’s to come positively” after graduating, while Lauren hopes to pursue engineering.
“Throughout my time at St Peters the connections I have built with teachers and students, both past and present, is something I've truly valued and appreciated,” Lauren said.
“I hope I can improve the relationships between grades and make our community grow.”
Likewise, college captains Joel L, 16, and Luci G, 17, are aiming to develop strong student relationships this year and make sure all students feel like they belong at St Peters.
“We want to build a culture that is founded on connection and respect for each other. We can't wait to unfold the events we have planned to strengthen our community,” Joel said.
Luci said she would love to see enhanced connections between students in different year levels.
“I aim to strengthen links between different areas of the college through events such as house carnivals, fundraisers and chapel services which will enhance the feeling of belonging at the college,” she said.
THE SPRINGFIELD ANGLICAN COLLEGE — Hayden Nelson and Jillian Taylor
Jillian Taylor, 17, said she was anxious when she first arrived in Australia from Japan but she had grown into herself thanks to the support of the Ipswich community.
“This fundamental quality of inclusivity, no matter your background, is really something I hope to exemplify and promote through the college in my leadership position,” she said.
“Overall, I am grateful to have been selected to represent The Springfield Anglican College and the Ipswich region and hope to further illustrate the college’s core values of faith, honour, and service.”
Fellow captain Hayden Nelson, 17, said he wanted members of his school community to “see first-hand the impact they can have on this world”.
“At my age, we marvel at the achievements of individuals, but rarely do we witness these wonders unfold,” he said.
“We are told these are the result of determination and effort, but never do we see the talent employed to create them. It is therefore my hope throughout 2022 to help enable young individuals with the opportunity to create their own marvels.”
WEST MORETON ANGLICAN COLLEGE — Hannah Lehmann and Lachlan Gough
WestMAC college captains Hannah Lehmann, 17, and Lachlan Gough, 17, are both looking forward to getting to know more members of their school community and for the opportunity to have a positive impact.
Hannah, a key player for the school’s open first’s football team and a Rural Operations Certificate III awardee, said her school had allowed her follow her passions.
“As captain, I’m looking forward to giving back to the WestMAC community, after all the support and great teaching I’ve received at the college,” she said.
“My goal is to make a difference, to create a long-term important program or event which adds even more to our great college community.’’
A WestMAC student since he was in kindy, Lachlan plays both the saxophone and violin in five bands, is the Year 11 Dux, and plans to study a dual physics and mathematics degree at QUT after graduating high school.
“I’m excited that we can have such a positive impact on the college community. I’m very civic and community-orientated and I’m enjoying being in a position where other students in our community can suggest ideas to us about events and programs, and we can act on them and bring these ideas to life,” he said.
“Two of my older siblings were college captains so I have big shoes to fill. We are working on a legacy project to ensure 2022 is a memorable year.
“We want to create a project which generates great community spirit and support, especially for Year 12s during the exam period.’’
WESTSIDE CHRISTIAN COLLEGE — Txai Anglin and Josiah Muir
Txai Anglin, 17, said she felt blessed to serve as a school captain at Westside Christian College alongside Josiah Muir.
“This year my dream is to continue to promote the culture of inclusivity, community, diversity, and excellence which is uniquely Westside’s,” Txai said.
“I wish to develop deeper relationships between the primary and secondary schools, encouraging students to dream big and become the best version of themselves.
“I hope to demonstrate a standard of leadership that inspires others to leadership, just as I too look up to the leaders before me. I welcome opportunities beyond our school as we reach into the community: to meet new people and forge strong connections.”
Josiah Muir, 16, attended Westside since kindergarten and said he loved being immersed in the college environment.
“This year I am looking forward to working with staff and students to live out the light of gospel in our school community,” he said.
“I hope to serve the school and nurture a loving, interconnected, student body where we are not just defined by our individual abilities, but by our love for each other and for our Lord.
“I pray that this year, as a school, we would be united: focused on building each other up, encouraging one another and always looking for opportunities to grow closer to our Creator. That is my vision for this year.”
WOODCREST STATE COLLEGE — Jeremy Collins, Chloe Skornsek, Max Kukielczynski, and Chloe Hendry
As a 2022 leader, 17-year-old Jeremy Collins is striving to make Woodcrest an “exciting and engaging environment for his peers.”
He said he “hopes to teach students about fitness and sports, in addition to promoting a physically and mentally healthy school lifestyle.”
His peers described him as “not only an aspirational role model, but he displays astounding leadership. Jeremy will bring great things to Woodcrest State College.”
Fellow leader Chloe Skornsek, 16, was described by students as a “down-to-earth person who can always be counted on to aid you when you need it. Her intellect and moral power are exemplary and is without a doubt something to look up to.”
A college spokeswoman said her kindness, dependability, and perseverance made her an excellent representation of Woodcrest.
“Being elected as school captain has always been a dream and a significant goal of mine since I began Prep,” Chloe said.
“What I am most looking forward to is challenging myself with new tasks and knowing I have graduated as a role model to the younger year levels.”
Max Kukielczynski, 17, was said by a college spokeswoman to be an extremely hardworking student who hopes to inspire all students and boost school spirit.
He said the school was “full of wonders” that he was “thrilled to explore”.
“We — Woodcrest — truly stand out as the strongest community in Springfield and I look forward to representing the college at communal events and maintaining Woodcrest’s legacy,” Max said.
He was described by his peers as being a “leader who connects well to all of his peers, regardless of age. He is a strong leader for others to look up to and count on. He is hardworking and an exceptional student when it comes to his studies.”
Sixteen-year-old Chloe Hendry said, as captain, she was working towards “boosting the representation of students within the community.”
“I hope to assist students with abiding to the school’s expectations while enjoying the remainder of my year before graduating,” she said.
Her fellow students described her as a “brilliant and bubbly leader that always looks for a way to make school fun for her fellow students.”
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