Academic Achievement in Spotlight
February 18, 2010
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Lachlan, Sam, Greg, Jason, Dennis, and Dom with Mr Daryl Hanly
Academic achievement has been the focus at St Joseph’s Nudgee College assemblies over the past two weeks as the College celebrates those who have achieved in their studies.
Students from Years 6-12 were awarded a total of 123 gold, 123 silver and 79 bronze medals as a result of their strong academic performances in Semester 2, 2009.
In addition to congratulating current students, the College also welcomed back 2009 Seniors Dom O'Donnell, Sam Vollert, Greg Kelly, Lachlan Johnston, Jason Liu, and 2009 College Captain Dennis O'Keeffe.
Dom and Sam received an OP1 and have since been awarded a University of Queensland Excellence scholarship worth $24,000 over 4 years. Dennis has been awarded a UQ Merit scholarship.
Greg, Lachlan and Jason are three of five Nudgee College students who received an OP2.
"To be awarded an OP1 puts a student in the top 2 per cent of the state," Acting Dean of Learning and Teaching Mr Terry Donaghue said.
"OPs 2-6 are from the next 19% so the students here today are quite comfortably in the top 20 per cent of the state academically. That is a great result," he said.
In what Mr Donaghue described as a "success for the variety of pathways on offer", 79 per cent of 2009 OP eligible students received an OP 1-15. In addition, 245 Level I and II Certificates were issued in various Vocational Education courses.
Sam, who was the College Dux in 2009, addressed the assembly to share some of his secrets to academic success.
"Catherine McAuley said ‘our perfection does not consist in performing extraordinary actions, but rather in performing extraordinarily well, the ordinary actions of every day’.
"Catherine’s quote is a lesson in how to be successful – do ordinary things well. Don’t pitch goals that are unattainable as this will just create stress. Likewise, don’t pit for yourself challenges that are too easy," he said.
Sam challenged current students to "perform ordinary tasks extraordinarily well” and to “have confidence in their goal setting".
"My advice is to learn to be realistic with your goal setting. Don’t underestimate what you want to achieve and don’t be content with the ordinary. Finally achieving balance is essential. Hamstrings don’t last forever and academic success can seem hollow without anything else."