ACHIEVERS: St Brigid’s College Horsham VCAL dux Georgia Pilgrim and VCE dux Sam Cameron. More than 95 percent of the college’s students who applied for courses through VTAC received a first-round offer. Picture: PAUL CARRACHER
Student leaders offer support to new VCE students
20 January 2021
BY DYLAN DE JONG
Wimmera year-12 students of 2020 awarded for their academic success are offering advice to their 2021 peers as schools prepare to return to classes next week.
St Brigid’s College Horsham Victorian Certificate of Education student Sam Cameron and Victorian Certificate of Applied Learning student Georgia Pilgrim were named their school’s duxes for 2020.
The students were among thousands across the state who faced a year filled with adversity and unconventional learning conditions such as studying from home due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
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Sam, who achieved an Australian Tertiary Admission Rank, ATAR, of 90.75, plans to move to Melbourne to start a Bachelor of Film and Television course at Swinburne University.
He said last year brought about myriad challenges, but his focus was set on completing his study.
“It was quite hard, being a bigger workload in year 12 and having to work from home, but I knew what I wanted to do,” he said.
“I was not expecting to get an ATAR this high. I had set my goal at about the 80 mark when I started the year.
“When I got the call from the school to say I was the dux, I was pretty taken aback. It came as a pretty big surprise.”
Sam said the best advice he could offer students was to pursue interests they were passionate about.
“It helps a great deal if you do what you’re interested in,” he said.
“I felt I could really keep focused because media is something I’m quite passionate about.
“When you’re really passionate about something you don’t even realise you’re putting in a lot of work.” Sam said ‘keeping calm’ was his best tool to help him achieve his goals.
“I went into year 12 fairly relaxed even though we had a pretty tough year. I tried to keep that mentality all year round,” he said.
“I wasn’t too stressed going into exams, which made a big difference with how I handled the pressure.”
Georgia, who is completing a certificate three in hair and beauty, said despite the ‘unexpected’ end to her school career she was still content with the final outcome.
“2020 was really different to how I imagined it to be, but it wasn’t a bad year,” she said.
“I still had fun with my friends, but it was quite hard to get through it alone in remote learning. My friend and I joked about becoming dux at the start of the year and we tried our best and had a bit of a competition. But it still came as a bit of surprise when I got the call.”
Georgia said she believed 2021 would continue to be a challenge for students and encouraged them to seek help when needed.
“Definitely stay connected with your peers and teachers,” she said.
“If there’s any concerns, don’t be afraid to ask anyone, because you’re all in the same boat.
“But most of all, have fun, because it’s your last year.
“Make the most of it because you’re going to miss school when you have finished.”
Wimmera dux
Secondary school leaders across the Wimmera praised all departing year-12 students for their achievements in 2020.
Stawell Secondary College dux Patrick Wemyss achieved an ATAR score of 96.1.
Warracknabeal Secondary College announced William Drage as school dux, with an ATAR of 90.45.
Mikayla Farmers.
Mikayla Farmers, who achieved an ATAR of 97.55, was Nhill College dux.
Marian College Ararat dux Bridget McGuckian scored among the top two percent of VCE students in the state with an ATAR of 98.4.
Horsham College announced Isabelle Oman as dux with an ATAR of 93.
Dimboola Memorial Secondary College dux was Tallula Harradine-Hodge with an ATAR score of 89.1.
Jodan Grant was dux of Ararat College, Hayley Grigg dux of Edenhope College, Rainbow P-12 College dux was Macy Fuller and Hopetoun P-12 College dux was Mali Horman.
