Honour for Launceston’s top student achievers

Students from Scotch Oakburn, St Patrick’s College, and Launceston Church Grammar school are among Tasmanian’s top-achieving students who have been honoured at a ceremony. SEE THE FULL LIST OF ACHIEVERS

Academic student Charls Jibi of Elizabeth College and VET student Brooke Szlapa of Rosny College who have been honoured at Government House Tasmania. Picture: CHRIS KIDD

ELIZABETH College student Charls Jibi has achieved the incredible academic feat of a perfect score.

He was among 49 of the brightest academic and vocational education and training students from the state’s secondary schools and colleges who were recognised for their exceptional performance.

Governor Kate Warner officiated the Office of Tasmanian Assessment, Standards and Certification awards ceremony at Government House.

Prof Warner said she was honoured to present certificates and medallions to top-achieving students.

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Deputy Premier Jeremy Rockliff addressed the crowd.

Mr Jibi’s ATAR of 99.95 is the highest possible score.

The Indian-born 18-year-old said he had applied to universities to study medicine throughout Australia.

“I was extremely happy, surprised and so excited when I got my score,” he said.

He is enrolled in medicine at the University of Tasmania.

“I wasn’t sure what I wanted to do so I am going in with an open mind,” he said.

“I applied to Melbourne and Monash, but want to be in Hobart. I lived in Ireland for six years before coming to Tasmania and this is home.

“I worked hard but balance my free time with study,” he said.

He enjoys badminton and cricket. He looks forward to the university year starting on February 24.

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Rosny College student Brooke Szlapa, 18, is also on the high achievers list.

She completed her Certificate III training in tourism. While on placement at MACq 01 Hotel on Hobart’s waterfront last July she was offered a position as a food and beverage attendant.

“I really enjoyed it, I loved learning there and now working there,” she said. “When I got the call about the award I was surprised but happy and felt proud of myself.

“I learnt so much through VET, its been a rewarding experience.”

She plans to work at MACq 01 this year and grow her skills.

TASC executive officer Katrina Beams’ advice to all school leavers is to focus on the bigger picture achievement of completing school.

Ms Beams said there are many options for students.

Another top performer was Harry Swan, 19, from Launceston Church Grammar School, who achieved an ATAR of 99.65.

“I was very surprised and excited,” he said.

“Study is not the most important thing. I picked subjects I had an interest in and then it’s not like hard work because you put in the time doing something you love,” Mr Swan said.

He is enrolled to study science at Monash University.

OUTSTANDING ACADEMIC ACHIEVEMENT AWARD RECIPIENTS

Lucy Balmforth The Friends’ School, Louise Field Rosny College, Alexander Fracalossi Elizabeth College, Grace Grove Scotch Oakburn College, Jakob Haas Elizabeth College, Harshika Herath Elizabeth College, Charls Jibi Elizabeth College, Yunhwan Kim Hobart College, Raiden Lemon The Hutchins School, Sophie Leszczynski Elizabeth College, Sasha Massey St Patrick’s College, Finlay Murfet St Brendan-Shaw College, Eleanor O’Toole St Michael’s Collegiate School, Oscar Purtell Launceston College, Charlotte Rand Scotch Oakburn College, Kavija Ratnayake Marist Regional College, Lily Rohner The Friends’ School, Barnaby Russell Hobart College, Isaiah Sadiq The Friends’ School, Edward Saunders Hobart College, William Searle Elizabeth College, Ernan Smith Hobart College, Lachlan Stedman Launceston Church Grammar School, Rachael Stitz Hellyer College, Harry Swan Launceston Church Grammar School, Struen Vanderplas The Hutchins School, Akindu Wijayasinghe Marist Regional College, Harold Wilson Launceston College, Sophie Young Fahan School, Yining Zhu The Friends’ School.

OUTSTANDING ACHIEVEMENT IN VET AWARD RECIPIENTS

Jack Adams Hobart College, Nancy Bidiongo St Mary’s College, Mykayla Bone Sorell School, Lucy Boulter Rosny College, Makayla Casey Hobart College, Abbie Chatwin Marist Regional College, Sebastian Donaldson Rosny College, Macy Edwards Hellyer College, Georgia Elias Launceston College/ Lilydale District School, Brigette Hallett Sorell School, Elizabeth Hanley Launceston College, Joel Humphreys Marist Regional College, Taylah Jelfs-Quinlan Marist Regional College, Kahl Kaine Hellyer College, Georgia Kitic Hellyer College, Olivia Knight Launceston College, Olivia Moore Guilford Young College, Abbey Morris Hellyer College, James Radford Lilydale District, Amy Sharp Hobart College, Miriam Shute Hellyer College, Tori-Ann Stringer Hobart College, Brooke Szlapa Rosny College

NOTE: Some students did not want their names published