Top academic students are honoured

Rathkeale/St Matthew's Senior College have celebrated the academic successes of students this year at their annual prizegiving.

The highlight of the ceremony was the presentation of awards to the top two students in the Senior College for 2012 with Andrew Sampson named as Proxime Accessit of Senior College and Bronwyn Neal named Dux of Senior College.

Students also were recognised who had topped subjects at NCEA Level 2 and 3, and Academic Colours were awarded to 14 Year 13 students who gained excellent results in Level 3 Internals and the School Trial Exams.

Special Awards included the Markham's Business Studies award, this year presented to Angela Wilmshurst by Mr Alistair McLennan, and the new Hirschberg Family Trophy for Excellence in Science, which was awarded to Andrew Sampson.

"It was a pleasure to welcome back Hamish Hirschberg (an NZQA Premier Award winner 2011) and his sister, Andrea, to present the trophy," principal Willy Kersten said.

Guest speaker, Miranda Harcourt ONZM, enthused the Senior College students, parents and staff with her lively speech encouraging leavers to "never underestimate the importance of truth", a lesson she instils into the drama students and actors she coaches worldwide.

Rathkeale and St Matthew's will host their own prizegiving ceremonies where sporting, cultural and service awards and prizes will be presented.