Top 20 Territory students ATARs announced

The top Territory students were revealed on Monday at Parliament House, with students from Alice Springs to Darwin receiving top 20 honours. SEE THE LIST

Northern Territory’s top 20 NTCET performers. Picture: Charlie Bliss Creative

Every year students across the country anxiously await their university entry scores (ATAR).

For Northern Territory students, that day arrived on Monday.

This year 1447 Territory students received their Northern Territory Certificate of Education and Training (NTCET) — 78 more than last year.

In a ceremony at NT Parliament House on Monday, the top 20 performers across the Territory were awarded.

Education Minister Jo Hersey congratulated those present.

“You should be incredibly proud of your hard work and dedication,” Ms Hersey said.

Education Minister Jo Hersey congratulated the top 20 students. Picture: Darcy Fitzgerald

“Your efforts and perseverance have truly paid off.”

Thirteen of the top 20 students came from Darwin High School.

“To have so many in the top 20 is just incredible,” Darwin High School principal Jill Hazeldine said.

Ms Hazeldine credited the staff and students for the amazing results.

“Our students are really hard working,” Ms Hazeldine said.

“And our highly experienced staff have supported them to achieve this fantastic result.”

This year’s top student was Samuel Ricketts of The Essington School.

Samuel Ricketts was the top student in the Territory. Picture: Charlie Bliss Creative

Samuel received an ATAR of 99.90.

“It’s incredible and so unexpected,” Samuel said.

“It was very full on going into the end towards the exams.

“But I’m very thankful to my amazing school for supporting me.”

Samuel also credited his maths teacher, Mr Hogg, who was “the most incredible teacher I had this year”.

Ramona Joan Dooley of St Philip’s College was the top performing Indigenous student.

Ramona Joan Dooley was the top performing Indigenous student. Picture: Charlie Bliss Creative

She scored an ATAR of 92.30.

Ramona plans to travel next year — after that she may go into law or education.

“I’m not really sure what I’ll do,” Ramona said.

“Hopefully it comes to me as I’m travelling.”

Paddy van der Geest-Hester of Our Lady of the Sacred Heart was the highest scoring student from Alice Springs, with an ATAR of 99.40.

Paddy van der Geest-Hester from Alice Springs hopes to become a vet. Picture: Darcy Fitzgerald

“I’m so glad all of my hard work over the past few years has paid off,” Paddy said.

Next year he will take a gap year to work at the Alice Springs Desert Park to get a “taster” in the conservation industry.

“I love animals, and I’m particularly interested in conservation,” Paddy said.

“In 2026 I’ll head down to the University of Melbourne and hopefully specialise in veterinarian science.”

While the event celebrated the top 20 NTCET students, Ms Hazeldine of Darwin High School said all the students who completed their NTCET deserved congratulations.

“We’re incredibly proud of every single student who completed their NTCET,” Ms Hazeldine said.

“To those that didn’t receive the score they were hoping for — don’t despair.

“ATAR is just one measure of success and there’s lots of ways to achieve what you want to do.”
 

Top 20 NT students

1. Samuel Ricketts — The Essington School — 99.90
   
2. Rupendren Manimaran — Darwin High School — 99.90
3. Hunter Roomes — The Essington School — 99.80
4. Muhammad Qasim — Darwin High School — 99.70
5. Zirui Zheng — Darwin High School — 99.70
6. Naomi Ziyun Jia — Darwin High School — 99.65
7. Paddy van der Geest-Hester — Our Lady of the Sacred Heart Catholic College — 99.40
8. Pothik Vincent Mondol — Darwin High School — 99.15
9. Paraskevi Diamandopoulos — Darwin High School — 99.10
10. Jasper Mules — The Essington School — 98.95
11. Darshi Gune Pandithage — Casuarina Senior College — 98.85
    
12. Gabriella Anne Francis — Darwin High School — 98.80
    
13. Mohammad Niyaz Hasan — Darwin High School — 98.75
    
14. Joe Abraham — The Essington School — 98.65
15. Shanum Khan — The Essington School — 98.65
16. Nathaniel Joseph Freeland — Darwin High School — 98.55
    
17. Phoebe Louise Wiltshire — Darwin High School — 98.45
    
18. Taufiq Hidayatullah Lubis — Darwin High School — 98.35
    
19. Joel Nathan Durrheim — Darwin High School — 98.30
    
20. Tahlia Freijah — Darwin High School — 98.15