Top Achievers return to MLMC

There was a wonderful feeling of celebration and community coming together again in the Doyle Centre on Wednesday 3 February as our academic elite from the Class of 2020 returned to the College for the Top Achievers’ Assembly. Other Year 12 students also returned to receive awards and acknowledgements that could not be presented at December’s Night of Excellence due to VCE results being released after Christmas.

We acknowledged those who achieved the VCE Top Achievers, as well as those who had the highest study scores in each subject, our VCAL Student of the Year and the seven students who achieved the VCE Baccalaureate. Harrison George addressed the student body as the winner of the Catherine McAuley Award (his speech is attached). This year he will study Civil and Infrastructure Engineering (Honours) at RMIT.

Dux for 2020 Jamieson Manger achieved an ATAR of 97.25, higher than she expected, and she was among 5.9% of our students who received an ATAR above 90. She received the highest study scores in Biology, Chemistry and English Language and also the VCE Baccalaureate. She was joined at the assembly by her parents Wayne and Jodie (pictured) and her younger sister Carissa. In addressing the student body, Jamieson spoke to them about focusing on what they want in the future and making it happen.

Jamieson, the 2020 Science Prefect, said she was unsure which path she wanted to take and chose a variety of subjects, adding Italian and Mathematical Methods. It helped her to solidify that she loves Science and in a few weeks’ time she will begin a Bachelor of Science at the University of Melbourne. She said she was “not too sad” to be offered her second preference. “It gives me a lot more freedom to explore a lot of different aspects of Science.”

The COVID-19 outbreaks made 2020 a particularly challenging year for our Year 12 students, whichever pathway they took. Twenty of our students achieved 40+ study scores, with Year 11 student Andre Parlas achieving a perfect score of 50 in VET Sport and Recreation. The College had completion rates of 100% for VCAL and 95% for VET. Our Top Senior VCAL student for 2020 was Reanna Corrigan. Reanna is this year at TAFE studying Animal Studies with hopes to become a Veterinary Nurse.

Jamieson said that among her highlights of a tough 2020 was returning to school after each lockdown to reconnect with friends. “Every time we got to go back to school was a highlight for me… the teachers’ faces were just so excited to see you and that was really awesome.” Jamieson said she enjoyed studying at home because it cut the commute, which gave her more time with family and to ride her horse. Her advice for the Class of 2021? “Everyone faces the struggles of VCE in their own way and you just need to do your very best and put hard work into it.”

Bridget Deed scored the second-highest ATAR with a score of 93.95. She has deferred a place at Deakin University studying Exercise and Sport Science/Business (Sports Management), choosing to take up a AFL traineeship working in the Sports department assisting Sports Coordinator Ms Danni Webb. Her advice to students was: "Do everything you can, you don't want to get your ATAR score and be thinking you could have done more".

Rhiannon Nanscawen said she was “elated” when she learnt she had received an ATAR of 93.65. Rhiannon will soon begin a Bachelor of Psychology (Honours) at Deakin University. “I’m leaning more towards becoming a Clinical Psychologist, but I’m keeping my mind open going into this course.” And the greatest lesson from 2020 she learnt? “Never take your friends and teachers for granted.”

CLICK HERE to read the address given by 2020 College Dux Jamieson Manger.

CLICK HERE to read the address given by Harrison George winner of the Catherine McAuley Student of the Year award.