University beckons for top students

Rodney College’s Dux Corey Kok is off to study engineering at Auckland University, following in the footsteps of his two brothers Cornelius and William.

Corey, 17, received a $2000 scholarship from the university for each year of study.

Corey lives in Rodney Street and has been a student at Rodney College since leaving Wellsford School. He’s played in the first XI soccer team and says that physics and calculus are his favourite subjects.

After working through the summer holidays he’ll join Cornelius – who’s completed his degree in mechanical engineering and is about to embark on a PhD – at Auckland. “I’m excited at the challenges ahead, but it’s also a bit sad that school’s over.”

Amanda Pride, of Tauhoa, can’t wait to get down to Wellington to start studying architecture at Victoria University.

“I loved it there when I went for the open day; being right in the centre of the city will be so exciting. I’m just so keen to move on to the next stage of life and embark on something that has interested me since I was about six.”

Amanda is Rodney College’s Proxime Accessit for 2009. The former Tauhoa school pupil lives with her parents and younger brother on the family beef and sheep farm. Older brother Patrick is studying accounting at Lincoln University.

Amanda has always enjoyed graphics, art and design at school and plans to stay on at university to complete a Masters degree. “I’m looking at five years at Victoria if all goes to plan. I’ve loved being at Rodney College – the atmosphere is awesome, the staff and students so friendly, and I’ve really benefited from all the opportunities that a small, caring school community has provided. I can’t thank them enough.”

Main prize winners:

Dux – Corey Kok; Proxime Accessit – Amanda Pride; Scholarship winners: David Sheat Memorial ($1000), Callum Liefting; Rodney District Council ($2000), Claire Fell; Civic Service ($1000), Sam McRae; ASB Scholarship ($150), Crystal Brierley; Auckland University ($2000 for each year of study), Corey Kok; Auckland University of Technology Scholarship ($5000 for each year of study) – significant student (contribution to school and community), Louise Sinclair; Vic Chancellor’s Scholarship (academic achievement), Megan Grayson; Community partner Maori Scholarship, Darryn Gibbons; Partington Family Scholarship ($5000) Ashleigh Hume, Corey Kok.

Otamatea High School results

Otamatea’s top student Thomas Scott-Smith is headed for Victoria University to study anthropology, but is keeping his options open as far the direction his future career will take.

Thomas, 18, is this year’s Dux, while Zoe Jaques is Proxime Accessit.
Thomas has a keen interest in drama, debating and music. One of the highlights of his final year at Otamatea was playing at Rock Quest in the band “Eat Less Bread”. He’s hoping to continue to build on his skills as keyboard/bass guitarist, as he will be joined at Victoria by fellow band member Roland Brown.

Thomas, who lives at Matakohe, said he had a busy final year at school.

“There have been three highlights really, apart from finishing the year as Dux,” he said.

“One was being in the Northland debating team which did so much better than in previous years, almost making it into the semi-finals (of the national competition).

Another was performing at Rock Quest, with the third being the play that some friends and I wrote, performed and produced as part of our achievement standards for NCEA drama. Thomas also picked up a $2000 scholarship.

“It’s been a great year.”

Proxime Accessit Zoe Jaques, of Kaiwaka, is heading south to Otago next year to study PE or health, with the aim of ultimately pursuing a career in the health sector.

Zoe admits to being “excited and scared” at the prospect of swapping home and school for university.

“But I am looking forward to the challenge and there are a few former Otamatea pupils down there already who’ll help me out.”
Zoe played hockey and tennis at school, enjoys water skiing and wake boarding, and is a keen dancer.

Other main prizewinners:

Jessie Vaughan trophy for senior citizenship (Ferguson and Oldham Trophy) – Michelle Culley; Best All Round Maori pupil (Rennie Trophy) – Kiriane Abel; Kia Maia – Be Brave in Learning (Te Uri o Hau Development Ltd) – Dean Kingi; Peer Support Award (Kaipara District Council) – Kristeen Peters; First in Year 11 (OHS Board of Trustees Cup) – Elaina Moulds; First in Year 12 (Neil KcKay Trophy) – Dominique Squires Newby; Excellence in Year 12 English and Science (R & F Tornquist Trophy) – Dominque Squires Newby; Most promising pupil returning to school (Thompson Trophy) – Dominque Squires Newby; Year 7-11 student exhibiting best school spirit (Te Jay Cup) – Melissa McCabe; Fair play and sportsmanship Trophy (Engraving Systems) – Zoe Jaques; Achievement as a top New Zealand scientist (Royal Society of NZ) – Thomas Scoot-Smith; General excellence by senior student (DA Finlayson Cup) – Thomas Scott-Smith; ASB scholarship (ASB Trust) – Ripley Dean, Ana Stock; Massey University High achiever scholarship (arts) – Tegan Montgomery-Williams; Marsden Lodge scholarships – Holly Powell, Ripley Dean, Roland Brown; Senior Victrix Ludorum (KM Cup) – Ripley Dean; Senior Victor Ludorum (Webster Brothers Cup) – Ryan Cocking; Outstanding sporting achievement (Haydn and Mary Hutching Cup) – Ryan Cocking.