Year 12 students from Benalla P-12 College were excited to celebrate as ATAR results were released on Monday, December 11.
High achiever Oliver Hall was named Dux of the graduating class, with Ebony Armstrong posting excellent results, named runner-up.
While Zoe Horsfall was VCE VM (Vocational Major) Student of the Year.
Oliver said he was proud to be named Dux and was relieved all the year’s of hard work had paid off.
“I believe everyone in at my year level has done really and achieved their best,” he said.
“I think the numbers themselves (ATAR scores) don’t define any of us and don’t determine our achievements in schooling.”
Oliver said the result means he has an opportunity to get into a variety of courses he had been looking at, and having those options open lots of doors.
“I am currently applying for the defence force,” he said.
“I’m looking to go into the air force as I enjoy aviation, and I’d like to be able to contribute to the welfare of my country.”
Oliver said his advice for students heading into Year 12 was to do their best.
“Do what you can do, put in the effort and don’t worry too much about the ATAR scores,” he said
“Take every opportunity you can to enjoy yourself, but also learn from any experiences you have.”
Olive said he’d like to thank the school and teachers.
“I’m eternally grateful for their encouragement and the constant support,” he said.
“They’ve been really supportive. We couldn’t do this without them or get to where we are.”
Ebony was not expecting to be one of the top two students in the year and was sitting in a cafe when the call came in.
“I was with my cousin and said, ‘I’d better take this call’,” Ebony said.
“This won’t affect my plans for next year as I’d planned to take a gap year.
“But it’s nice to have something extra to add to my resume.
“And it means I have more choice over which university course I can get into after the gap year.”
Ebony hopes to take up a Bachelor of Arts, majoring in writing and screenwriting, starting in 2025.
Zoe is taking a different pathway and, after a successful work placement, will take up a job at Kids Cottage on Bridge St West.
“After my work placement, they offered me a traineeship,” Zoe said.
Zoe said she had enjoyed working with young children, and when the opportunity came up to start her career straight out of school, it was an easy decision.
“I enjoy watching the different ways that kids learn,” Zoe said.
“And it’s fulfilling to see them learn new things.”
Ebony and Zoe thanked the school and their teachers.
“Especially Ms Hocking, for shepherding our rag-tag cohort through Year 12,” Ebony said.
“And Ms Cotter has been amazing.”