St Patrick’s College student Hayley Andrejic celebrates record ATAR results and shares sporting successes

From competing in national swimming comps and working as a lifeguard, an ambitious Townsville student has now made the record books with her amazing ATAR results.

Hayley Andrejic a year 12 student from St Patrick's College just achieved the highest ATAR result the school has seen. Picture: Evan Morgan

An aspiring medicine student and a successful athlete already, a Townsville high school student has smashed more goals recently with a record-breaking ATAR result which she achieved while balancing a raft of other epic wins.

St Patrick’s College student Hayley Andrejic has achieved a 99.20 ATAR score which tops the highest result a student from the school has secured and the 18-year-old has shared the moment she found out.

“As soon as I woke up I checked it, I didn’t think it would be out just yet but mum said ‘it’s out’,” the year 12 student said.

“I ran up to my parents and told them straight away.

“I was pretty ecstatic, I was pretty shocked as well I wasn’t expecting it.”

The aspiring JCU med student said the huge achievement came with “a lot of work”, which she didn’t take lightly.

Hayley Andrejic a year 12 student from St Patrick's College just achieved the highest ATAR result the school has seen. Picture: Evan Morgan

“It was quite challenging but both St Pat’s and also my parents have been really good with helping me out and balancing it right,” she said.

“I made sure I did enough study and put all my time and effort into that.”

The young woman however doesn’t boast just an exceptional academic record but has achieved massive success over the years as an athlete.

“I ended up dropping gym at the start of externals to give myself a bit more time to work so it was pretty structured most of my days,” she said.

“I used to do a lot of open-water swimming but I really wanted to knuckle down with school and put my best foot forward into getting into medicine so I pulled back on swimming and started doing triathlons.”

The successful swimmer competed in the Australian MultiSport AquaForm team in the middle of this year alongside working as a casual lifeguard for the Australian Lifeguard Service.

“If I’m not doing school, sport or work I’m hanging out with friends,” she said.

Hayley’s mum Michelle also expressed her appreciation for her daughter’s hard work.

“From a really young kid she’s always swam at Nationals and medalled,” she said.

“I’m so proud of her, she’s really worked hard no matter what she’s done. She’s always given 100 per cent I’m glad it’s paid off for her.”

Originally published as St Patrick’s College student Hayley Andrejic celebrates record ATAR results and shares sporting successes