‘From C’s to straight A’s’: Meet Queensland’s smartest student

A 17-year-old Queensland graduate will be named the state’s top student at the Queensland Certificate of Education Achievement Awards on Saturday night, after receiving an ATAR of 99.95.

The QCE's top achievers of 2024 will be recognised this week. Aileen Hu (St Hilda's School, Southport) with Angus Slater (All Saints Anglican School, Merrimac) and Max Gao (Anglican Church Grammar School, East Brisbane) Pic: Nigel Hallett

Queensland’s smartest graduate of 2024 is in a class of her own.

Aileen Hu, 17, will be named the state’s top student at the Queensland Certificate of Education Achievement Awards on Saturday night, after receiving an ATAR of 99.95, getting As in seven major subjects and topping Queensland for the subjects of English and Literature Extension, French, Literature, Mathematical Methods and Physics.

The St Hilda’s School (Southport) graduate also successfully completed a number of university subjects across her second semester of Year 11 and during Year 12 including intro to law, calculus and linear algebra, principles of economics, human anatomy and physiology and intro to psychology.

From Cs on her first school report card in prep to straight As in high school, Aileen said she always wanted to do well in school.

Aileen Hu. Pic: Nigel Hallett.

“And I think my parents instilled that in me. I’ve been motivated just intrinsically, I think I’m a very driven person,” Aileen said.

On her next venture, Aileen is set to study a Bachelor of Commerce at the University of Melbourne under the Chancellor’s scholarship – awarded to only the best and brightest high achievers.

“Even though all my subjects were very Math and Science orientated, I really have a passion for the humanities, history and international politics as well,” she said.

“So, I’m hoping to integrate that into my future plans, the intersection of the stem and humanities.”

Anglican Church Grammar School Graduate Max Gao will be awarded as Distinguished Academic Achiever and said he was “very happy” after he found out.

“I feel like, in some sense, I knew that I was going to do pretty well, because I felt pretty good coming out of the externals, but it was still very, very nice to see,” he said.

Max who received an ATAR of 99.95 will study a Bachelor of Biomedicine at the University of Melbourne, also under the Chancellor Scholarship.

Acting Executive Director, Anglican Schools Commission, Catherine O’Sullivan, said the results recognise the extraordinary education that is available to all students who attend an Anglican school in South East Queensland.

“In addition to recognising our talented, gifted and driven students, the Queensland Certificate of Education Achievement Awards also recognise the skill, passion and commitment of our fabulous teachers and school leaders.”