Students score scholarship wins

Scholarship exams have been crowned with success for at least two Wairarapa pupils.

Katherine Murray of Solway College was New Zealand's Top Scholar in the 2012 NZQA Scholarship Science Examination, while Liam Jolliffe of Wairarapa College took scholarships in each of the five exams he sat last year.

Both pupils were Dux at their respective schools last year.

Solway College principal Beth Rogerson said Ms Murray's achievement "is simply outstanding" and said she had attended the school since Year 8 as a weekly boarder.

"Katherine has had an individual programme provided for her since she arrived at Solway, and her success is the result of her hard work and the dedication of her teachers.

Ms Murray will be studying at Massey University. She was also awarded a Massey University Vice-Chancellor's Academic Excellence Scholarship and was the recipient of the 2013 NZ Pharmaceuticals Massey University Chemistry Bursary.

The success of Ms Murray capped a stellar academic year for the Year 13 class at the school last year, who achieved a 100 per cent pass rate both in Level 3 NCEA and University Entrance, while 55 per cent of pupils achieved overall Merit or Excellence Endorsed Certificates.

Mrs Rogerson said the school had a similar success rate in Level 1 NCEA, with 96 per cent of students passing as a result of its Making Excellence Happen programme.

Wairarapa College principal Mike Schwass said Liam Jolliffe had worn a neck brace and sat his exams at a sloping graphics desk last year, after injuring himself while skiing, and had still scored an "outstanding" scholarship grand slam.

Mr Jolliffe, who is studying for a bachelor degree majoring in mathematics at Victoria University, achieved scholarships in physics, chemistry, maths with calculus, statistics and modelling, and geography.

Wairarapa College pupil William Rogerson, who sat scholarship exams while in Year 12 last year, also gained a scholarship in statistics and modelling, and mathematics with calculus, Mr Schwass said.

Cara Butcher, who was head girl at the school last year, took a scholarship in classical studies.

"These are fantastic results and it is very pleasing to see these kids succeed in the way they have," he said.

Last year, 7974 students participated in New Zealand Scholarship exams, with 2344 of them achieving a scholarship. Those students are scheduled to receive almost $3.7 million towards their further study over the next three years, according to the NZQA.