By Bridie Smith
For Deniz Daymen, this summer is scholarship season. The 17-year-old’s stellar ATAR score of 99.65 has put him among the state’s top VCE performers and secured him a Melbourne University residential scholarship.
But before he swaps life at home with his mum in St Albans for a Parkville postcode, he has a week at Lord Somers Camp on the Mornington Peninsula to look forward to.
Deniz Daymen’s perfect study score in economics contributed to his impressive 99.65 ATAR. Credit: Eddie Jim
A nomination from his year 11 chemistry teacher secured the scholarship from Western Chances, an organisation which supports young people in Melbourne’s west facing financial barriers.
Daymen was one of three St Albans Secondary College students to receive an Australian Tertiary Admissions Rank, or ATAR, above 99 on Thursday, with school dux Kelly Lam getting 99.80 and Maybel Verma not far behind with 99.60. Another 30 students scored above 90, giving the school a median ATAR of 74.
Lam, 17, who received a Premier’s VCE Award for biology this year, plans to study medicine at Monash University next year.
Principal Craig Jennings said the results were a big deal for a school where just over half the students came from a disadvantaged background. He added that the class of 2024 was one of the school’s most challenged groups in recent years.
“This is a cohort of students with lots of other stuff going on outside of school, so we are really proud of what they have achieved,” he said. “This is a really impressive result.”
Jennings, who took over as principal this year, said this year’s cohort also stood out as having recorded a greater percentage of students with ATARs in the 80s and 90s.
“They’re amazing, they’ve done so well,” he said.
St Albans Secondary College stars Kelly Lam (dux), Maybel Verma and Deniz Daymen with principal Craig Jennings.Credit: Eddie Jim
The school also achieved a median study score of 31, a result which replicated the two previous years.
More than 47,400 Victorian year 12 students received their ATAR on Thursday, with 8.8 per cent getting study scores above 40. Just 0.3 per cent got a maximum study score of 50.
Daymen’s study scores included a perfect 50 in economics – making him one of 688 VCE students to receive the maximum score for a subject. He received 49 in specialist maths, 48 in maths methods, 46 in chemistry and 42 in English.
“I wasn’t expecting a result like this,” Daymen said. “I really didn’t believe my score.”
His score secures his spot in his preferred course studying science and engineering at Melbourne University next year.
“I don’t have to worry about anything now, I can relax and enjoy my holiday.”
While Daymen has decided what he will be studying next year, Jaeden Vaithianathan is still making up his mind.
The 17-year-old Haileybury student, who recorded what he describes as “the big one” – a perfect 99.95 – has medicine, engineering and classical studies on his list.
“I’m keeping my options open,” he admits. “I’m going to go back and review my preferences.”
Vaithianathan said he had a lot of fun in year 12 and puts it down to his extracurricular activities including debating, violin and playing Uncle Fester in the school musical, The Addams Family.
“I’ve still got the bald caps from that, they’re on my desk now. And they’re not going anywhere, I’m keeping them.”
Mixing extracurricular activities was the secret to success for Haileybury’s high-achievers Jaeden Vaithainathan, 17, Lucy Gibson, 18, (sitting) and Ashleigh Bell, 18, and Sandy Aurora, 17.Credit: Wayne Taylor
His classmate Lucy Gibson, 18, received a 99.65 and will head to the Australian National University in Canberra to begin a double degree in law and languages next year.
She received an early university offer in September and will live on campus in a self-catered dorm.
“I’m excited to do something new, and it will be an opportunity to learn other life skills,” she said.
Camberwell Grammar student Joel Cheok, 18, is already familiar with campus life having taken a maths extension subject at Melbourne University while completing his VCE this year.
Cheok received a perfect score of 99.95 thanks to five perfect study scores of 50 – four this year and one in 2023. He is still considering whether to do science at Melbourne University or medicine at Monash University.
Joel Cheok at Melbourne University on Thursday, where he completed an extension subject which contributed to his perfect score.Credit: Jason South
His school motto translates to “by our deeds may we be known” and he has already made his mark on the global stage.
In July, he came 43rd out of the world’s top 300 biology students when competing at the International Biology Olympiad in Kazakhstan.
“I really like biology,” he said. “It incorporates lots of different sciences, and it also has real applications which can be applied to your life.”
Camberwell Grammar headmaster Dr Paul Hicks said the class of 2024 had been hit hard by the shutdown years of COVID.
“They had a number of other obstacles to overcome along the way, so I am very pleased to congratulate them for their outstanding VCE results this year – equal to the best in our history.”
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