CONGRATS: Meet the 2023 Toowoomba school duxes, high achievers
All the late nights, nerves, sacrifices and commitments have paid off for these talented students who have excelled in their academic pursuits. Meet some of Toowoomba’s highest ATAR recipients of 2023 here.
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For the 2023 high school graduates of Toowoomba, they have spent more than half a decade working to achieve impressive grades to help them in their quest to achieve their dream careers.
All the late nights, nerves, sacrifices and commitments have paid off for these talented students who have excelled in their academic pursuits.
Here are some of Toowoomba’s highest achieving students from 2023.
The Chronicle reached out to all secondary schools in the region to participate.
See someone who should be on the list? Let us know by emailing toowoomba@news.com.au.
2023 Toowoomba Dux recipients
Coby Graham – ATAR equivalent of 99.00
Every subject Coby Graham was enrolled in during his senior year of high school, he received top marks for, excluding Christian Studies, where he was a close runner-up.
The 18-year-old, who graduated from Toowoomba Christian College, was also a school prefect and left a mark in the school’s music arena.
Serving as the leader of the secondary choir tenor section, a member of the advanced ensemble Octave One and co-ordinator for the chapel band, Coby has also completed all three levels of the Duke of Edinburgh’s Award.
“Once I agree to do something, I always try to follow that thing through to the absolute end and get the most out of it, and that is exactly what I have done this year,” he said.
“I have been blessed with many things, including a great memory and the ability to learn quickly, but everybody has flaws that can hinder them.
“Once you know your weakness, you can find a way around that weakness – for me, I was vulnerable to anxiety, but I found the release and reset my priorities.”
Instead of ATAR rankings, students from Toowoomba Christian College are recognised through the Scholastic Aptitude Test.
Coby scored a SAT result of 1480 out of 1600, which means he achieved a result equivalent to an ATAR score of 99.00.
The student, who approaches stressful situations with a calm and level head, said the biggest obstacle he faced during his final exams was seeing his peers stressed.
“When dealing with this, I turned to (music because) I can make myself feel anything I want by turning on a particular song or artist, literally changing myself to fit the time or task,” he said.
“I think that worry and stress will just hinder your work and make you a harder person to live with, so just keep a clear mind and do the best you can with the skills and time you have.”
Grateful for the support he has received from his parents, the high school graduate said his Year 5 and 7 teacher Mr Jesse Murphy also changed his life by teaching him about growth mindset and the importance of learning for more than achievements alone.
Passionate about helping young people reach their full potential, Coby has enrolled in a Bachelor of Secondary Education at the University of Southern Queensland.
Connor Smith – 95.95
Science has always been Connor Smith’s biggest passion, whether he was watching a documentary about it as a child or researching the topic as a teen.
Despite his keen interest in science, the 17-year-old who received an ATAR score of 95.95, said his favourite and best performing subject was specialist mathematics.
“We all have to remember that life, and especially study, is going to be full of adversity, and it’s OK to feel unmotivated or overwhelmed sometimes,” he said.
“That’s why it’s important to have a support network around that you are open to call on (whether it be) parents, family, friends or teachers.
“My teachers were a big inspiration for me and helped me engage in the content which most
definitely contributed a lot to my final results.”
The Mary MacKillop Catholic College senior has enrolled in a dual degree of engineering and mathematics at The University of Southern Queensland.
He plans to specialise in mechatronic engineering and is particularly interested in the realm of aeronautic and aerospace technology.
Offering tips to younger students, Connor said it was key to find strategies to help overcome procrastination, but to ultimately persevere and “stick it out” during the tough times.
When the Highfields school graduate was not studying and working towards his future, he was focused on his creative outlet of music, particularly playing the guitar.
Earning a well-deserved break, the high school graduate celebrated the end of his schooling journey with friends, followed by a trip to Bali with his family.
Imogen Kleidon – 99.75
In the midst of preparing for ATAR and the University Clinical Aptitude Test, Imogen Kleidon has also been juggling a part-time job and university interviews.
Five out of six of the subjects the academic student enrolled in were STEM related, with Imogen even attending SPARQ-ed – a week-long medical research opportunity at the Translational Research Institute.
“I truly love STEM, as there is something special about understanding why things are the way they are,” she said.
“The best strategy to achieve a great ATAR is definitely to become more independent and learn how to find anything you need – it’s out there, you just need to find it.”
The Glennie School student who graduated with an ATAR of 99.75, is excited to pursue medicine in the future and is particularly interested in working in rural areas.
If Imogen is successful in her application for UniSQ’s medical program, she plans to study at the Toowoomba campus for three years, before moving to the UQ Rural Clinical School in Gatton for the final four years of the degree.
The 17-year-old said her advice to other students would be to work hard, develop strategies to assist with studying and time management, push through hard times and turn to others for support.
“My mum is definitely my biggest inspiration – she was the only person who was consistently supportive, no matter what was happening in her own life,” Imogen said.
“I’ve seen and heard about all of the trials and tribulations in my mum’s life, and if she could do the things she did and work as hard as she did, then Year 12 would be a walk in the park in her eyes.”
Isabella Doyle – 99.65
Problem-solving extraordinaire Isabella Doyle excelled in her mathematical subjects in school, leading to an incredible 99.65 ATAR result.
The Fairholme College graduate, who is currently celebrating the end to exams with her school friends on a trip to Europe, said her success came down to her commitment to following a routine and making the time to have fun.
“I would start my work soon after getting home from school and would use dinner and showering to break up my study (which) allowed me to rely less on motivation and more on routine,” she said.
“It’s also important to be involved in some sort of extra-curricular activity as to take your mind off assessment and de-stress – this gave me something to look forward to every week, which I found was good for my mental health, especially when school got a bit hectic.”
The 17-year-old said her biggest inspirations were her parents who not only supported her during exams and assessment periods, but always motivated her to achieve her best.
“Next year I intend on studying a bachelor of engineering at the University of Queensland where I will stay at college, and I’m interested in pursuing either mechanical or chemical engineering,” Isabella said.
“My dad is a civil engineer, and as I am interested in studying engineering, I really look up to him.”
The high achieving student said the biggest hurdles she worked to overcome were implementing time management and prioritisation to avoid burnout.
Jessica Lee – ATAR not supplied
Oakey State High School graduate Jessica Lee has finished her high school journey on several highs after taking out six prestigious accolades at the end of year ceremony.
In addition to being named the 2023 dux, the dedicated student also received an Academic, Platinum award, as well as for Mathematical Methods and Service to School through Student Council and Fundraising Chair awards.
Jessica was also recognised with an ADF Long Tan Award for Leadership and Teamwork and RACI Excellence Award in Chemistry.
“Our Dux has also achieved high distinctions in two university head start courses completed and has been a student within the prestigious UQ Young Achievers Program,” a spokeswoman for the school said.
Keely Byrne – 97.80
When Keely Byrne is not studying, you will find her fulfilling her role as the school’s Mission Captain, showcasing her creativity in the performing arts or playing netball – a hobby she has pursued since she was six years old.
The Dux of St Joseph’s College achieved an impressive ATAR result of 97.80, after undertaking mathematical methods, physics, specialist math, study of religion, English, literature and literature extension.
“I knew going into my senior years that these subjects would be hard, but I was able to surprise myself with how hard I pushed myself to succeed, and how much joy I would find in mastering these difficult subjects along the way,” she said.
“Finding motivation to study can sometimes be difficult. I had a vision board above my desk, with images of what I wanted to achieve – good grades, spending time with my friends, and looking after myself – to remind me to continue to work hard so these things could come to fruition.”
The 18-year-old graduate said her advice for future high school seniors would be to practise gratitude, practise self care and set aside time to step away from studying.
“I learned to appreciate that I had the chance to grow my knowledge through my learning (so) studying didn’t feel like a chore, but something that I did to improve myself and my understanding of the world,” she said.
“I’m so happy to have been able to study in an environment where I was constantly inspired by the drive of others around me.
“My classmates always pushed each other to succeed and supported each other whenever we could, and my teachers were not only brilliant and passionate in their subjects, but also
truly cared about our future and our wellbeing.”
Passionate about pediatrics and helping children to be confident in their abilities, Keely said she was looking forward to starting her studies in occupational therapy at the University of Queensland next year.
To celebrate the end of her high school years, Keely spent a week in Noosa Heads with her friends, playing Monopoly and eating fish and chips on the beach.
Luca Donald – 99.75
Whether Luca Donald (they/them) is playing the piano, completing assignments and exams or debating, the Toowoomba Anglican School graduate is excelling.
Playing the piano since the age of five, the talented musician said this co-curricular activity had become their favourite hobby, but they did not perform publicly due to anxiety.
The classical pianist is currently learning Chopin’s Fantaisie-Impromptu and Franz Liszt’s Liebestraum No. 3.
Sadly, Luca lives with Charcot-Marie-Tooth – a degenerative nerve disease which leads to nerve damage and has impacted their ability to play the instrument they love.
“Over the course of the years, (this has) significantly reduced my mobility and my ability to play the piano (which) is a uniquely frustrating experience to witness this decline and its consequences, especially alongside other struggles with identity,” they said.
“Piano is a place for me to escape from my other concerns and refine my own musicality and technique.”
In addition to music, Luca achieved an ATAR of 99.75 and also holds the role of adjudicator for the Queensland Debating Union – a contribution they received an award for this year.
The 18-year-old, who enrolled in predominantly STEM subjects in high school, also enjoys reading and writing and currently works as an academic tutor at Ascend Learning.
“Senior school presents nothing short of a plethora of unique problems for everyone – the timing of school can be messy when you’re also in the process of growing from a teenager into an adult,” they said.
“Errors are inexorable and a given part of school, and learning to accept that has been quite an obstacle for me, especially as a perfectionist.”
Luca’s tips for future graduates was to take care of themselves, set up a study routine and focus on developing quality relationships with others.
“My main advice would be not to take senior high school, or life in general during the period, too seriously – whatever your plans are after graduating, they are almost certainly attainable,” they said.
“Have faith in the system that has already seen thousands of students graduate, and allow yourself to flourish within these guidelines.
“Think about who you want to be, what you want to cut out, what you want to improve on, and make the decision to be that person.”
To promote a healthy mind, Luca said the body also needed to be treated well by eating nutritious foods, staying hydrated, exercising and sleeping well.
The avid learner said they were moving to Brisbane to live with their brother next year, while they study a dual degree of maths and science, majoring in chemistry.
While Luca admits nine years of study is a big commitment, they hoped to go on to study medicine and ultimately become a doctor.
Riyan Khan – 99.95
While eight hardworking students from Toowoomba Grammar School achieved an ATAR result above 99, Riyan Khan was the school’s sole graduate to receive a perfect score of 99.95.
The 18-year-old who hopes to pursue a career in medicine, said he believed the secrets to his success was to form study groups with his friends and keep participating in co-curricular activities.
“I don’t think anyone actually enjoys studying, so by getting your friends involved and working together, it makes the experience a bit more enjoyable, meaning you’re more likely to study more regularly and for longer durations,” he said.
“My advice for future seniors would be to make the most of the year and enjoy yourselves … while it is important to focus on your studies it doesn’t mean you have to stop doing the things that you love.
“Make time to keep up your hobbies, spend time with your friends and you’ll find yourself being happier and more relaxed, which will help greatly with your wellbeing and which will hopefully also be beneficial for your academics.”
The Toowoomba high school graduate said his biggest challenge was juggling his sporting, leadership, service and academic commitments, but found prioritising tasks assisted in meeting deadlines and reducing stress.
When Riyan was not studying maths, science and his favourite subject French, the sports fan would likely be found playing cricket, football and basketball – or on the debating field.
“My biggest inspirations are my parents – they mean the world to me and have always been there to support me,” he said.
“They inspire me through their journey which they have gone through to be where they are today, and through their character – they are hardworking, kind and resilient, which makes me want to be like them in the future.”
With plans to pursue medicine, Riyan said he was interested in learning about the intricacies of the human body and making a lasting difference to the lives of his patients.
Ryan Coleman – 98.95
When Ryan Coleman and his friends completed their final exam, the group of friends celebrated in the most unique, yet understandable way.
“(We) gathered all of our books and study notes, sat around a firepit and spent the night recalling old high school memories and burning pages and pages of specialist mathematics calculations,” he said.
The St Mary’s College graduate, who achieved a 98.95 ATAR score, said he always made the effort to squeeze in his co-curricular activities in between his studies.
Whether he was performing in the college musical, captaining the senior cricket team, debating or fulfilling his school leadership role duties, Ryan said this strategy helped prevent burnout.
“I love the diverse opportunities that St Mary’s College has provided for myself over the years, giving me a sense of immense pride in the community the school has created,” he said.
“By opening yourself up you can build self-confidence, broaden your worldview and have an overall more enjoyable high school experience.”
In addition to his family and friends, Ryan said he was grateful for the support he received from his modern history teacher.
“Miss Cowen always went the extra step to help myself and my peers succeed, instilling in me amounts of self-belief that I had never had that I could achieve whatever I put my mind to,” he said.
“Not many students have a teacher who really believes in them, and that’s where I would consider myself exceedingly lucky.”
With intentions to become a forensic pathologist, Ryan said he would be relocating to Brisbane to study physiotherapy at the University of Queensland and live at a residential college campus.
Upon the completion of his honours degree, he said he wanted to sit the GAMSAT examinations to pursue medicine as a post-undergraduate pathway.
2023 Toowoomba high achieving students
Ally Darr – ATAR not supplied
Leading the way for all students at Oakey State High School this year was the 2023 school captain Ally Darr, who has made an impact in more ways than one.
In addition to the position, Ally was an integral part of the school community, assisted with the running of several events, offered her expertise on the sporting field and excelled academically.
At the school’s 2023 Awards Night, the senior high school student was rewarded in six separate categories including the Academic, Platinum, All Rounder awards.
She also received the Service to the School and Community Awards for her contributions as school captain and in agriculture, as well as a subject award for Agricultural Science, Food and Nutrition and Physical Education.
A spokeswoman from Oakey State High said the student had not only upheld the school’s values but had also made exceptional contributions.
“Ally has displayed dedication to her studies, completing both a uni head start course and Certificate III in Business, in addition to receiving an academic award and three subject awards,” the spokeswoman said.
“She has shown commitment and service to others as Inter-Year leader working with Year 7 students, organising and running lunchtime events for the whole-school community, in addition to coaching our junior girls’ touch football team.”
Ayan Rahman – 99.85
During school holidays, weekends and over many late nights, Ayan Rahman worked tirelessly studying with his group of 20 friends at the library.
The Toowoomba Grammar School student, who hopes to follow in his older sister’s footsteps to pursue a career in medicine, said this study group was part of the reason he achieved an ATAR score of 99.85, as well as organisation and co-curricular activities.
“In grade 12 you have so much going on, so you need to get really good at prioritising and cut off small responsibilities where possible,” he said.
“I also did a lot of retrospective timetabling, which is when you write down your exam date and small goals to reach in the weeks leading up to your exam, and that helped me a lot.”
When Ayan was not studying hard in the library or working to achieve his goals in maths and economics, he was playing cricket, chess or watching Bollywood movies with his family.
The 18-year-old said he wanted to study medicine at the University of Queensland in Brisbane or Melbourne’s Monash University and hoped to one day specialise in either dermatology or ophthalmology.
“My biggest inspiration would have to be my sister who is a doctor herself, and is really who got me interested in medicine in the first place,” Ayan said.
“I remember she would come home from uni and tell me all about what she had learned with great passion and that really instilled that passion in me too.”
Deborah Heyze – 87.75
From leading her high school and cohort, to excelling in academics and dance and working part-time, Oakey’s Deborah Heyze managed to juggle all of these commitments and still finished the school year with an impressive ATAR of 87.75.
Appointed one of the captains for the 2023 school year, the 18-year-old studied business, music and drama but delivered her best results in English and mathematics.
In addition to enjoying her co-curricular activities including dance, Deborah said she believed it also contributed to her performance in her studies and exams.
“The thing I love about all of these activities and subjects are they are never boring,” she said.
“I made sure I wasn’t taking life too seriously and still found time to do things that I love, like dancing and hanging out with my friends between school, work and study time.
“If you take the pressure off yourself to be the best student in the world, exams also don’t seem like such a chore and hard to do well in, so you can do your best with less stress.”
At the Oakey State High School’s 2023 Awards Night, Deborah received seven awards including Academic, Platinum, Subject for general English and mathematics and Service for her role as School Captain.
Other achievements she received included the Highest Senior Vocational Education and Academic Student Award, Oakey RSL Sub-Branch Recognition of Excellence Bursary and Cross Country Age Champion for the 17 and 18 year old age group.
A spokeswoman for Oakey State High School said Deborah had completed a Certificate II in Salon Assistance, as well as a Certificate III in Business through a school-based traineeship with Pizza Hut Oakey.
“She has achieved A results for all of her five general subjects with an overall 90 per cent average result,” the spokeswoman said.
Next year, Deborah will start her Bachelor of Secondary Education at the University of Southern Queensland in Toowoomba and plans to major in English and Drama.
Once she obtains her qualifications, the aspiring teacher plans to move to Central Queensland – preferably near a beach.
“My teachers always inspired me to do my best (along with) the rest of the staff at Oakey State High School,” she said.
“They were always beside us encouraging us to keep going and to do our best and they never gave up on us.”
Joseph Schneider – 95.60
Future robotics expert Joseph Schneider wants nothing more than to have a happy and successful future.
The driven student achieved a 95.6 ATAR result after studying physics, chemistry, mathematics methods, study of religion, general English and I.T.
Joseph also completed a Certificate III in IT, two HeadStart university courses through the UniSQ and a Young Changemakers Program at the University of Queensland last year.
He also attributed a lot of his determination and knowledge to his time spent with the Scouts, which he joined at the age of eight.
“I loved the sense of community from being involved in the scouts and I have made many good friends,” Joseph said.
“(Through Scouts) I was able to do a leadership course, first aid courses, I helped plan and run a three-day biking trip, travelled to multiple camps across southeast Queensland and thoroughly enjoyed my time in the movement.”
Inspired most by his parents, Joseph said he was grateful for their hard work which had contributed to his academic success and ability to follow his career aspirations.
The Mary MacKillop Catholic College graduate said his advice for the 2024 senior cohort was to work hard, sleep well and attend extra study and ATAR preparation sessions at the school.
“I studied until my brain hurt – I also studied at lunch time, in the library and any quiet place,” Joseph said.
“My biggest tips to helping with stress and time management are taking regular breaks in between study sessions, not slacking off on studying, even when you are tired, but making sure you get regular sleep because your brain needs it.”
The 17-year-old who was offered early entry to study at the Queensland University of Technology, said he would either be studying IT or artificial intelligence and robotics, along with engineering.
Hoping to pursue a career in robotics as a mechatronic engineer, the soon-to-be university student will be living at Raymont Residential College in Auchenflower, while studying.
Kyra Bartlett-Horne – 93.05
Put your head down, work head, create a work-life balance and make time for the things you love are the best pearls of wisdom Kyra Bartlett-Horne would like to pass on to future graduates.
The house captain of Mary MacKillop Catholic College graduated with an ATAR of 93.05 and received a perfect 100 in English.
Drawn to the subjects of literature, humanities and English, Kyra said she enjoyed creative writing and using language as a “cathartic means of expression”.
When the 18-year-old is not studying, you will most likely find her being an active member of her schooling community or on the netball court and touch football field.
“Although I value academic success and perseverance, creating an outlet through physical activity and team sports alongside this has been of utmost importance in achieving my goals,” she said.
“In order to counteract the stress and pressure of senior studies, it is vital to find the physical and mental outlets that make you happy.”
Describing herself as a “master of procrastination”, Kyra said her biggest academic obstacle during her high school journey was time management and maintaining focus at length.
“I found that the most effective solution to this problem was an intermittent study technique, in which I would set an alarm for 40 minutes of work, with a 5–10-minute break in between,” she said.
“My biggest inspirations through school were my teachers (because) their help and guidance enabled me to go into externals with as much confidence as possible.
“Their continued support, and their confidence in me reassured my ability, and offered calm amid the chaos of grade 12 assessment.”
The high school graduate plans to stay a dual degree of law and psychological science at Griffith University in Brisbane next year, with the intention to find a career in criminal law, behavioural analysis or human resources.
Sasha Lee – ATAR not supplied
Any career or academic path Sasha Lee decides to take will undoubtedly lead to a very bright future, with the Oakey State High School graduate performing in several different areas.
At the school’s 2023 graduation ceremony, Sasha received awards for the subjects chemistry and drama, as well as her service as treasurer of the Student Council.
Her impressive list of accolades continued as the high school graduate received the Academic and Platinum, AJ Hindman Women in STEM and RACI Excellence in Chemistry Awards.
“Sasha received the AJ Hindman Award for her invested interest in the field of STEM that she has actively participated in during her time (at school),” A Oakey State High School spokeswoman said.
Thomas Dixon – 99.85
Toowoomba Grammar School graduate Thomas Dixon received the best early birthday present when he discovered he had achieved an ATAR of 99.85 the day before he turned 18.
The son of two music teachers said the support he had received from his parents and witnessing how hard they worked, had spurred him on to succeed in his academic and future career path.
“My parents are both music teachers so they always have a lot on their plates with early mornings and late evenings,” Thomas said.
“I really admire them because of their hard work and commitment, but when the going gets tough, they always keep on going.”
The high school graduate, who accepted his early admission offer at the Australian National University, is now in the process of packing up his belongings to move to Canberra in February.
Set to live in student residential accommodation on campus, Thomas will be studying a dual degree of engineering and applied data analytics, with plans to later pursue higher education before seeking employment.
The academic student said his favourite subjects were maths because it challenged him, philosophy as it was thought provoking and French due to the eye-opening learnings of a different language and culture.
In his spare time, Thomas plays the piano and bassoon, performs with the school band, choir and orchestra and chess club as one of Grammar’s top four players.
The TGS graduate said organisation, preparation and time management were his biggest tips for future high school seniors.
“It’s very important to set out your priorities, goals and what you want to achieve in the short and long term,” he said.
“Set your hopes high, make sure you know what you want to get out of it and think about what you want to do afterwards, so you can guide your focus in year 12.
“A big challenge – although I love my co-curricular activities – is the commitment needed to manage them along with your studies, but starting early and getting on top of things earlier than you need to really helped me.”
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