Southern Downs and Granite Belt students recognised for their outstanding academic achievements
As the schooling year comes to an end for Queensland students, schools around the state held their awards nights to showcase their brightest stars. See a list of high achievers from the Southern Downs and Granite Belt here.
Warwick
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Thousands of year 12 students across Queensland have bid farewell to the formative school years as they now prepare to embark on their future endeavors.
In honour of those students from the Southern Downs and Granite Belt who have now graduated, we’ve put together a list of students from schools around the region to showcase of some of their brightest stars who received recognition for their outstanding efforts this year.
We wish all graduating students from around the region the best with their future plans.
See the list of high achievers from St Joseph’s School Stanthorpe, Scots PGC College and Warwick State High School as nominated by their school below.
ST JOSEPH’S SCHOOL STANTHORPE HIGH ACHIEVERS
• Taylah Organ, 2023 school captain
Awards: Proxime Accessit Award - year 12, ADF Leadership Award - year 12, Year 12 Awards - Excellence Award
What do you plan on doing next year?
Next year I hope to get into Queensland University of Technology to study a Bachelor of Behavioral Science (Psychology)/Justice, and I hope that after completing this degree I will be able to pursue a career in criminal psychology, becoming a registered psychologist to hopefully work in correctional centres.
What was the most valuable thing you’ve learnt in 2023?
This year the most valuable thing I have learnt is what good communication actually means. In order to achieve my best, my teachers made it clear at the start of the year that unless we constantly communicated (and in some cases pestered them until they wanted to hide behind the closest thing to them when they saw me) then I would not gain all the possible feedback that would benefit my assessment and exam results.
What advice would you give to the next cohort of school leaders?
The advice I would give to the next cohort of student leaders is to ensure they maintain a balance between academics, leadership, sporting commitments and extracurricular commitments. Although it may seem daunting at the start of the year when school schedules come out, I promise it is possible to keep living a social life while maintaining solid academic achievements and having some fun.
What achievement are you most proud of in 2023?
The achievements of 2023 I’m most proud of were creating lasting relationships with many of my peers across all grades, hoping to have left a mark and impression that helps them to finish their schooling journey with a smile (and minimal stress).
• Hannah Widderick - 2023 School Captain
Awards: Ampol All Rounder Leadership Award - year 12, Year 12 Awards - Excellence Award
What do you plan on doing next year?
Next year I plan on heading off to university in Brisbane to hopefully study a duel degree of both education and business economics.
What was the most valuable thing you’ve learnt in 2023?
The most valuable thing I learnt was that, YES, you are going to get burnt out, and YES, it is OK to give yourself a break. You need it and your body needs it, but I also learnt that giving yourself too much time off leads to extended procrastination.
What advice would you give to the next cohort of school leaders?
To figure out what it is you want to do next year as soon as possible, and to work as hard as you possibly can to achieve that goal. This helps to keep you motivated, when you think of where you vision yourself to be next year.
What achievement are you most proud of in 2023?
Honestly just getting through the year as well as I did. Year 12 was a huge effort for me, so any academic and sporting success was a proud achievement for me. Especially being able to captain our St Jospeh’s Netball team at QISSN this year.
It was a huge honour to go away with such an amazing group of girls.
• Eliza Telfer - 2023 Vice Captain
Awards: Year 12 Awards-Excellence Award, ADF Future Innovators Award, year 12 St Joseph Dux
What do you plan on doing next year?
In 2024 I am hopefully moving to Adelaide to study medicine or science at university while living at St. Marks College.
What was the most valuable thing you’ve learnt in 2023?
My most valuable lesson of 2023 is that it pays off to put in the effort. It seems exhausting in the moment but it feels so much more rewarding at the end when you know that you have done all that you can and you can see the results. Effort really does equal outcome.
What advice would you give to the next cohort of school leaders?
For the class of 2024 and beyond, don’t stress. Life happens and sometimes you just need to go with the flow. Make sure you don’t burn yourself out too quickly, you still have an entire life ahead of you, and future you, needs present you, to be ok.
What achievement are you most proud of in 2023?
(The year) 2023 was filled with many proud moments, and while my academic efforts have been validated, I am very proud and grateful to have so many more friendships at the end of the year than I did at the start. I strongly believe these friendships are going to be what I remember in time, not what I got on my IA2.
• Coen Taylor - 2023 Sports Captain - McAuley
Awards: Year 12 Awards - Recognition Award, Crisps Sports Star - Secondary, Australian Olympic Change-Maker Program Award
What do you plan on doing next year?
My current plan for next year is to take a working gap year on a farm before I make any big decisions.
What was the most valuable thing you’ve learnt in 2023?
I have learnt many lessons, but the most valuable lesson that has stuck with me is to take each opportunity you get, (big or small) as you never know what will follow.
What advice would you give to the next cohort of school leaders?
My advice for next year’s school leaders is to always be ready to lend a hand.
What achievement are you most proud of in 2023?
My proudest achievement from 2023 was my time in Spain playing futsal with a great bunch of blokes.
• William Smith
Awards: Year 12 Awards - Excellence Award, St Joseph’s Dux - year 12
What do you plan on doing next year?
I plan on going to uni to study Mechatronic Engineering at QUT.
What was the most valuable thing you’ve learnt in 2023?
The most valuable thing I have learnt this year is that if you believe in yourself and work towards your goals you will be able you achieve them, even if the path isn’t as straightforward as you would hope.
What advice would you give to the next cohort of school leaders?
The advice I would give to next year’s student leaders is to not only stay focused on their goals and be a positive role model to the younger years, but to enjoy their last year of school and make every second worthwhile.
What achievement are you most proud of in 2023?
By far my proudest achievement is how I was able to improve upon myself as a person not just academically but socially as well. Since I first moved to Stanthorpe last year, I was completely lost so to speak in every aspect. So, to see myself grow past that makes me truly proud of myself.
SCOTS PGC COLLEGE HIGH ACHIEVERS
• Tori Winters
Award: Year 6 Arranmore Sportswoman of the Year 9-12 years
• William Grayson
Award: Year 6 Arranmore Sportsman of the Year 9-12 years, Futsal Award for Under 12 Best and Fairest
• Bailey Harm
Award: Sportsman of the Year 13-18 years
• Phoebe Sellick
Award: Sportswoman of the Year 13-19 years
• Jessica Angus
Awards: Year 12 Mayor’s Medal, Equestrian Awards: Champion Senior Dressage Rider, Champion Senior Showjumping Rider, Champion Senior Eventing Rider, Champion Senior Combined Training Rider and Best and Fairest Award, and Rugby 7s Open Most Improved
• Alexis Zerner
Awards: Year 12 dux, School Vice-Captain, Subject Awards for Business (Uniting Church Investment Services Prize), Mathematics - Methods, Mathematics - Specialist, Music and RJ & SL Shilliday Memorial Prize for Outstanding Citizenship and Service
What do you plan on doing next year?
I’m planning on going to QUT to study either a Bachelor of Medical Imaging or Bachelor or Radiation Therapy.
What achievement are you most proud of in 2023?
My most proud achievement (of this year) was being elected college vice-captain and trade of arts co-captain.
What advice would you give to the next cohort of school leaders?
Take it one step at a time and enjoy every moment, because it does fly past.
• Bridget Hardy
Awards: Year 12 runner up Dux, School Captain, Subject Awards for Biological Science (Deane-Butcher Prize), Drama, English student with top essay in English (Constance Mackness Essay Prize), English (DeConlay Prize) and ADF Leadership and Teamwork Award
What do you plan on doing next year?
I’m in the process of applying to universities to study medicine.
What achievement are you most proud of in 2023?
My main most proud achievement was being elected college captain.
What advice would you give to the next cohort of school leaders?
Keep really close connections with the people around you.
WARWICK STATE HIGH SCHOOL HIGH ACHIEVERS
• Joseph Beh
Awards: Acedemic Excellence, Physics Subject Award, Cultural Award (Full Colours), Extracurricular Award (Half Colours), Long Tan Leadership Award
What do you plan on doing next year?
I intend on travelling to Brisbane next year and undertaking a math/science dual-degree at the University of Queensland. I also want to spend part-time work tutoring future students in these areas.
What was the most valuable thing you’ve learnt in 2023?
The most valuable lesson I’ve learnt in 2023 was to make the most of the opportunities you’ve been given. The time you spend at high school goes by faster than expected and getting involved allows you to make the most of it all. Taking on new challenges has allowed me to get to where I am today.
What advice would you give to the next cohort of school leaders?
The advice I have for future cohorts is that it is important to keep your friends close. They will be an invaluable source of support as you move forward, and will provide endless help and memories into the future. I would also tell them to manage their time. Year 12 can be a stressful year, but if you manage the way you spend your time, you can still have fun and make a large impact on the school, and on the community.
What achievement are you most proud of in 2023?
My proudest moment of 2023 was receiving the Long Tan Leadership award at our school awards night. It felt like a recognition of the hard work I had put in over the past year. In combination will everything else I have achieved, it felt amazing to stand with the rest of our cohort and accept the awards for our efforts throughout the past year.
• Sophie Kuhn
Awards: Academic Excellence, 2023 school captain.
What do you plan on doing next year?
I have two jobs working in education for my gap year in 2024. I wanted to take a gap year as I was still deciding between a few degrees, and finally decided I would work in one of the fields I was considering whilst also saving up for uni and travelling trips I plan to take next year.
What was the most valuable thing you’ve learnt in 2023?
That it takes all types to lead and succeed - it’s important to be able to work with people of all personalities and abilities as challenges come in all shapes and sizes and the best shot you have at succeeding and making a difference relies solely on your ability to work with those around you to achieve all the things that would be impossible to do alone.
What advice would you give to the next cohort of school leaders?
Have fun. I know that it’s frustrating when people tell you to have fun during a very stressful time in your life, but it’s so important to enjoy what you’re doing because as the leaders you set the vibe for many things. It also makes it easier to do your job - if you have fun with the year level assemblies you visit they won’t be a drag, if you treat every committee activity as a chance to go have a blast with your friends and get involved in something great so your lunch breaks don’t get lost - they get upgraded.
What achievement are you most proud of in 2023?
Building a relationship with the year 7 cohort. As school captains we set that as one of our goals to help them feel comfortable in high school, but to also teach them a few things about the way we do things. At the beginning of the year every Monday morning I’d do a little “what I wish I knew in year 7” at each of their assemblies and would give a piece of advice from a current year 12 student e.g. always greet Mrs Williams as you walk through the doors to the library, and all teachers, because a little bit of respect goes a long way and they will move heaven and earth for you when you’re in a scrape. By the end of the year I was chatting to them about things going on in their grade, and giving shout outs to specific students, and they felt comfortable enough to come talk to me at lunch and around school which was a success beyond what I had hoped for.
• Ryan Callow
Awards received: Academic Excellence, Service Award – Full Colours, Cultural Award – Full Colours, Curricular Enrichment Award – Full Colours, Certificate II in Engineering Pathways Award, Australian Defence Force Innovators Award, Ampol Best All-Rounder, Mayor’s Medal and Student of the Year Award, 2023 School Captain.
What do you plan on doing next year?
I will be taking a gap year to earn some money for six months before heading off to the England to go visit family that I have over there, and I will be taking a part-time Aeronautical Engineering Course at Bristol University. Whilst being over there with my own family, I will have mates travelling with me to the UK, and we plan to travel Europe, and I’m, especially looking forward to when we head over to Greece. After a year in Europe, I will be returning to Australia to further my studies, or to join the Australia Defence Force Academy to continue studying aeronautical engineering.
What was the most valuable thing you’ve learnt in 2023?
The most valuable thing would be to always take the opportunities presented, as you’ll never know where they might take you. I have been very fortunate with this as I’ve been able to participate in many fun and exciting events such as the school musical and the ski trip.
What advice would you give to the next cohort of school leaders?
Don’t be afraid to seek guidance and ask for help, as you truly have people looking out for you, whether it be teachers, mates, parents, or even a boss/manager.
I would also say to be mindful of your actions as they truly have an impact on the younger grades, so lead will courage and kindness.
What achievement are you most proud of in 2023?
My proud moment of this year would have to be the awards night ceremony when I was presented with the Mayor’s Medal and Student of the Year Award. During the evening it was fantastic to see everyone recognised for their efforts this year, and it was great with how many year 12 students have been involved with the school this year.
- Sophie Strom
Awards: Academic Excellence, Cultural Award Full Colours, Service Award Full Colours, MAD Award, Legal Studies Subject Award, Music Subject Award, Music Extension Subject Award
What do you plan on doing next year?
Next year I plan on moving up to Brisbane to study a Bachelor of Speech Pathology at the University of Queensland. I hope to find a share house to move into with my brother and another friend from Warwick which is close enough to the university. As music is one of my biggest passions, I plan on teaching piano to younger school students in Brisbane and possibly continuing to work in hospitality as I have had enjoyed working in this field for the past few years.
What was the most valuable thing you’ve learnt in 2023?
The most valuable thing I’ve learnt this year is that it is ok to ask for help. Senior schooling has been a challenge academically and I could not have made it this far with the results I achieved by myself. The teachers and staff at Warwick State High School were always willing to answer any questions I had and help work through any topics I was struggling with.
What advice would you give to the next cohort of school leaders?
My advice is to get involved in all the activities no matter what leadership role you hold. The school has so much to offer, and your senior year goes by very fast so try and participate in as much as you possibly can. Some of my best memories were made through doing this, so I highly recommend putting yourself out there and getting involved in things that you might not usually do.
What’s your most proud achievement of 2023?
My proudest achievement of this year was making it to the end with commendable academic results, involvement in many committee activities, all sports days and the school musical, staying active through school netball, and being able to complete my Grade 8 AMEB Piano Exam. I am proud of myself for being able to create a balance in my life where I could enjoy every aspect of school and still be able to handle my study load.
Warwick Daily News has reached out to Stanthorpe State High School and Assumption College for a list of their high achievers.
If you were a high achiever from the Southern Downs or Granite Belt and would like to be included in this list, please provide details of your award and a photo to send to warwick@news.com.au.
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