What’s next for Coffs Coast’s HSC high achievers?

It’s a world ripe with choice for some of the brightest students on the Coffs Coast as we lift the lid on some of the standout results and hear about their plans for the future.

The Higher School Certificate challenge has been run and won and Coffs Harbour Senior College couldn’t be prouder after a superstar result with 38 students on the distinguished achievers’ list.

That number astonished many, but not college principal Sam Hutton who said “we anticipated it because the students have been working so hard”.

“They just persevered,” Ms Hutton said in relation to the past two years hamstrung by Covid and occasional remote learning.

To make the distinguished achievers’ list, a student had to earn a result in the highest band possible for one or more courses.

With a stellar ATAR of 95.4, Ted Hart, of Bellingen High, has it all before him. Picture: supplied.

Ms Hutton said the wide range of courses at the college was also a factor, as students were able to study an area they “are passionate about”.

“We wouldn’t have got there without the effort of our feeder schools, while the teachers have worked very hard as well,” she said.

Coffs Coast government schools with students on the gold star list include: Coffs Harbour High (four students), Bellingen High (10), Dorrigo High (one), Orara High (two), Toormina High (five) and Woolgoolga High (two).

Coffs Harbour Senior College dux Rimu Dana nailed it - with all five of her subjects landing in band 6.

“I’m really stoked as I was definitely worried,” Rimu said.

“There’s expectations on you when you achieve but I might just take a break. I would love to travel to Europe or Asia.”

Bellingen High School student Xavier Stephen has started an accelerated Bachelor of Nursing course in Tasmania. Picture: supplied.

Bellingen High’s Xavier Stephen also aced it, with three subjects in band 6.

“I was very excited, very happy with subjects that I really, really enjoy,” Xavier said.

And he’s already on to the next chapter, starting an accelerated Bachelor of Nursing course in Tasmania.

“I’ll continue to play music as well and get some gigs going,” he said.

With a stellar ATAR of 95.4, Ted Hart, also of Bellingen High, has it all before him.

“I definitely didn’t expect it,” Ted said, adding he plans some ‘time out’ from the books for work and travel.

Down the road, Ted’s looking at “architecture. Most of my marks came from maths so something in that engineering area”.

Mali Tipping is weighing up early acceptance options from a number of universities after scoring a cracking ATAR of 93.2.

“It was a really turbulent year and with learning by Zoom it was definitely a stretch,” said Mali of Bellingen High.

But she had nothing but praise for her “dedicated teachers”, and revealed she was leaning toward studying law at the University of NSW.

You can see the full list of distinguished achievers here.