Top Gold Coast ATAR students revealed
Gold Coast high school graduates have been listed among the state’s top performing students as final results have been revealed.
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AT LEAST five Gold Coast high school graduates have been listed among the top performing students in the state as final results were revealed.
As of Saturday, 49,600 teenagers were given their final grades with 26,042 receiving a place on the new Australian Tertiary Admission Ranks (ATAR).
At least six of the 30 students across Queensland who placed in the highest possible band of 99.95, were from Gold Coast Schools.
Top performing students included, Somerset College student Jacinta Mai, All Saints Anglican School Captain Kento Seki and Music Captain Ryo Takamizawa.
The Southport School Vice Captain Vishaak Gangasandra also took out the top honours along with St Hilda’s dux Phoebe Grosser.
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A number of other local students received the top scores of an ATAR between 99.95 and 98.90 (equivalent of an OP 1).
These included All Saints Anglican School’s Academic Captain and champion swimmer Tom Hauck who received an impressive 99.85, classmate Leo Xu with 99.80 and Madeline Rorie with 99.75.
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Somerset College dux Desmond Chuah ranked a 99.90, classmate James I scored 99.65, Ethan Kwon 99.85, while James Guy and Georgina Powell achieved 99.30.
Saint Stephen’s College graduates Olivia Dalton and Sophia Boyd received 99.35 and 99.30 respectively.
The group are the first graduates to have undertaken the new Queensland Certificate of Education system.
Statewide 5343 students received an ATAR between 99.95 and 91.50 (the equivalent of the OP 1-5 range).
For TSS student Vishaak Gangasandra, 17, his 99.95 was all thanks to his mother.
“I was so excited when I saw my ATAR, my mother was next to me and I gave her the strongest hug I have ever given anybody for all the support she’s given me over the past 13 years and my life,” he said.
He said he hoped to study medicine at the University of Sydney, but said he also had an interview with Harvard University to study neuroscience.
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All Saints Anglican School’s Kento Seki said he had to double check his score after receiving his 99.95 rank.
“It was pretty unreal. I’m feeling a relief and a sense of gratitude for all the teachers who supported our cohort throughout the year,” he said.
The school captain said he planned to study a Bachelor of Data science and Decisions at the University of NSW.
Desmond Chuah said he hoped to use his academic talent to change the lives of others, through dentistry after studying at Griffith.
“It might sound strange but I have always wanted to do dentistry. I struggled with my own teeth and saw the impact braces had on me. The condition of your teeth play a big impact on your health,” he said.
Chuah said Year 12 students should aim for a life balance when chasing the top score.
“Focus on your work and try your best, but also take some time for yourself, your wellbeing is important.”
For Aquinas College dux, Brodee Trinca said a great score came as a surprise.
The award-winning student earlier this year secured the Peter O’Brien Memorial Trophy for her outstanding contribution to mathematics scored a 98.6.
“I tried to have low expectations so I could be happy with whatever I received but this was much better than I imagined, I am pretty stoked,” she said.
“When I checked I was very, very happy.”
The Gold Coast girl hopes to stay locally and study engineering and business at Griffith University.
Education Minister Grace Grace congratulated the Class of 2020 on efforts and through their “pioneering” school years as the state’s first full cohort of Prep students, and the first Year 7s to attend high school. “Despite the disruptions to their schooling caused by the global COVID-19 pandemic, the great news is 89 per cent of these young people achieved a QCE,” she said.
Queensland Curriculum and Assessment Authority (QCAA) chief executive officer Chris Rider said Certificates of Academic Commendation would be sent to 983 graduates who received ‘A’ grades in at least six General subjects.
“The commendation is the first category to be awarded in the annual Queensland Certificate of Education Achievement Awards,” Mr Rider said.
“Winners in a further three categories will be announced in February.”
Originally published as Top Gold Coast ATAR students revealed
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