Monday mornings are rarely met with enthusiasm throughout the school year, but nearly 80,000 students woke up at 7am on Monday, December 11 with a pep in their step — and to find out their ATAR.
Not only did they check their ATAR and study scores, but four students in Shepparton got an extra call at 10am on the dot.
These students were the dux of their respective schools, and they couldn’t be more thrilled.
Angel Tacey received a score of 93.4 from her time at Notre Dame College, and she couldn’t wait to share the news with her parents.
“I was super happy but I didn’t really think I would get dux and then I got a call and just started bawling my eyes out,” she said.
“Mum was already at work so I actually went and saw her and told her, and her and Dad were really stoked.”
Her time was well spent, but she’s excited to move on to bigger things next year, she said.
“I’m super happy in general with how the year went because I think I definitely worked hard for it and I’m super happy that I did put in the time and the effort,” Angel said.
“I actually got an early entry offer for university, so I’m off to Armidale in NSW to study zoology.”
Shepparton Christian College’s dux was school captain Christiaan Buys with a score of 95, and his plans for next year are set and ready.
“First I was relieved because it’s a lot of pressure but then I was just proud, you know, just thinking about how much effort I put in and I was really proud to represent the school and my region as a whole,” Christiaan said.
“I’m applying for university and trying to get into La Trobe University on a rural medical pathway to hopefully become a GP and just give back to the community.”
Goulburn Valley Grammar School student and 2023 school captain Xavier Schmedje received an ATAR of 99.9, and he said it took a while for his dux status to feel real.
“I wasn’t expecting that and it took a while to sink in, but I was really excited — the whole family was,” Xavier said.
Looking back on the year, he said getting to this point was tough, and he was excited for his future endeavours.
“It was a lot of hard work but it really felt like it was worth it in the end and it was a really great experience,” he said.
“In 2024 I’ll be studying an accelerated Masters of Engineering at Monash University and hopefully going to do aerospace engineering.”
Greater Shepparton Secondary College student Matthew Hanns received an ATAR of 97.4 and was happy to receive the call informing him of his achievement.
“It was a good feeling to find out that I was dux, but I’d been talking through the grapevine with some friends so already had an idea of ‘I might be in the top 10’, but it’s still a pretty good feeling,” Matthew said.
His VCE journey isn’t over yet, and even though it’s been a stressful year, he’s prepared to get back on the horse.
“I’m doing a weird thing with my VCE, so I’m doing more next year, which means I’m going to be sticking around for a bit,” he said.
“I’ll be doing chemistry, English language and computing with some extra early uni stuff that I’ve figured out can run.”