Students across the Limestone Coast have received their Australian Tertiary Admission Ranks following the completion of their Year 12 studies.
The Class of 2021 eagerly awaited the release of the ATAR scores on Monday morning, with a host of students recording high admission rank scores, placing them one step closer to their chosen fields of university studies.
Grant High School: Angus Langsmith was honoured as the highest achiever at Grant High School with a score of 97.55 while Rachel Kelly was runner up with a score of 95.2 and Wil Scanlon followed with an impressive 94.9.
Mr Langsmith is currently undertaking a Certificate 3 business traineeship at Water Solve which will carry on into 2022 before studying Agricultural Science at the University of Adelaide.
He was accepted into his desired degree based on his Year 11 results, but still wanted to do the best he could.
“I was not expecting to get such a high ATAR but I did a fair bit of work throughout the year, so I suppose that paid off,” Mr Langsmith said.
“I would like to thank the teachers and staff at Grant because they were really helpful and I would not have been able to achieve my result without them.”
Grant High School Principal Fleur Roachock was full of praise for her students.
“Well done to the class of 2021 on excellent stage 2 results. Thank you to our wonderful teachers for inspiring our students in their endeavours and families for their invaluable ongoing support,” she said.
Mount Gambier High School: Sarah Dally achieved amazing results in the SACE earning Dux of Mount Gambier High school with an ATAR of 97.30 and earning a Merit in General Mathematics.
Angel Aguinaldo (96.45) and Alana Menzel (96.95) also achieved outstanding results.
“I do not know how I got here because I definitely did not expect this result. I would have been happy with 94, I think I needed a 92 for my course but just for personal satisfaction I wanted to get higher,” Miss Dally said.
Miss Dally will take a gap year in 2022 to undertake a traineeship at Mount Gambier High School before hoping to study a double degree in sport and exercise science and psychology in 2023.
Mount Gambier High School Public Relations Officer Amanda Lengyel congratulated the class of 2021 on their results.
“Mount Gambier High School are extremely proud of the achievements of the 2021 Year 12 cohort,” she said.
“This reflects a commitment by staff to support students through the rigours of the year and an ongoing tradition of Mount Gambier High School students to perform at or above state achievement rates.
“A significant achievement of the 2021 cohort is the number of A grade results.”
St Martin’s Lutheran College: St Martins Lutheran College student Agnes Doyle was Dux of the Limestone Coast with 97.85 followed by high achievers Jemima Puust (97.45) and Drew Baker (90.35).
Miss Doyle is taking a gap year in 2022 before heading to university in 2023 to study medicine.
St Martins Lutheran College Principal Alan Connah was happy with Monday’s results.
“We are very pleased with this year’s SACE results. Our students have acquitted themselves well and can be justly proud of their achievements,” he said.
“21% of the ATAR-eligible students achieved an ATAR over 80, while a notable 7% achieved an ATAR above 90.
“Significantly, 14 Year 11 students also successfully completed one or more Stage 2 subjects in 2021, while 10 out of 36 completions obtained a VET qualification as part of their SACE.”
College Head of Senior School Kathy Oliphant said the educators were incredibly proud of their students.
“There were some exceptional results achieved by exceptional young people,” she said.
“Every ATAR has a story behind it – it is not the number itself, but the way it has been achieved.
“St Martins students have as usual performed with integrity and persistence, truly demonstrating the St Martins spirit.”
Tenison Woods College: At Tenison Woods College, seven students achieved an Australian Tertiary Admissions Rank greater than 90 and the College Dux prize for 2021 was awarded to Tess Wight with an ATAR result of 95.45.
Other outstanding results included Lachlan Clements (95.00) and Hayley Pearson (94.40.)
Miss Wight attained As for five of her subjects and a B+ for a sixth subject in chemistry. She said she was nervous in the lead up to the results being announced.
“I woke up feeling stressed and scared because I was not expecting the results I got,” Miss Wight said.
She plans to study Medicine or Paramedic Science at Flinders University in 2022.
Miss Wight was also awarded a Governor of South Australia Excellence Award, one of just 25 students in the state to receive the prestigious accolade.
Tenison Woods College Principal David Mezinec said he was extremely proud of the 2021 Year 12 cohort who achieved solid final grades.
“I am delighted with the range of ‘personal best’ results achieved by students with the support of our committed staff team and individualised pathway planning that characterizes the college’s approach to student learning,” Mr Mezinec said.
Penola High School: The wait for nervous Penola High School Year 12 students is over, following the release of their SACE results, showing the school had another successful year.
The school’s top ATAR was achieved by Charlotte Neale with a score of 86.
Charlotte is hoping to study Psychology.
The school’s top four out of nine students all received an ATAR over 80, with Tom Skeer gaining 85.4 and Stella Glynn earning 71.6.
Principal Lesley Okholm congratulated all Year 12 students on their achievements.
“Penola High School has worked hard on SACE improvement and the work of our Deputy Principal Judy Goodes on SACE improvement and the mentoring support of Winsley Wighton and Mark Heyn has made a big difference to our students,” she said.
Naracoorte High School: Ella Jones achieved the Highest ATAR at Naracoorte High School achieving an outstanding score of 96.10 as well as a merit award for Research Project B.
Naracoorte High School Students Grace Bittner (91.75) and Yahnika Meyers (83.60) rounded out the top three ATAR scores.
Miss Jones will take a gap year in 2022 working at Naracoorte Sportspower and SESH before looking to study Agricultural Science in 2023.
“I was super excited and so happy with my result,” Miss Jones said.
Naracoorte High School Principal Kylie Smith said she was delighted with the result.
“Ella has consistently been a model student, diligently applying herself to her studies throughout Secondary School,” Ms Smith said.
“She has been our School Captain for 2021 and has demonstrated outstanding leadership skills, time management and organisational skills to maintain high-level grades throughout her secondary school.
“Ella represents the school with great pride, respect and dignity and has fittingly been awarded the dux of Naracoorte High School.
“As a staff and community, we are incredibly proud of our 2021 Year 12 cohort who have achieved solid final grades. Such results are testimony to the efforts of students, staff and families, who have worked incredibly hard to achieve this success.
“We wish them all the very best for the future.”
