Top ATAR achievers

Churchie’s class of 2022 received excellent results across the QCE and IB pathways, including four students who achieved the highest possible ATAR of 99.95.

Matthew Bond will be enshrined in Churchie history as our first student to achieve the highest International Baccalaureate (IB) score of 45.

Churchie introduced the IB Diploma Programme pathway in 2018, with the first cohort graduating in 2019. As a Year 9 student, Matthew first heard about the IB during a maths class when his teacher, Mr Ben Wasley, would would periodically talk about ‘his challenging IB Higher Level Mathematics class’.

‘Quite resolutely, that was where I first decided that I would do IB,’ Matthew said, ‘and two years later, I entered IB with a mindset captured by the aphorism what doesn’t kill you makes you stronger.’

Not one to shy away from a challenge, Matthew decided to study four higher level (HL) subjects, instead of the usual three. The fact that there is no points advantage to this exemplifies Matthew’s love of learning.

‘At the start of Year 11, I was taking the three HL subjects of chemistry, physics, and mathematics. However, due to the IB’s timetabling, I soon became aware that I could join in on another literature class’s HL classes,’ he said. ‘Through these extra classes, I discovered a genuine passion for analysing literature, particularly the poetry of Wisława Szymborska.’

Matthew’s outstanding achievements were recognised at Speech Night, where he was awarded The Neville Harpham Memorial Prize for Dux of the School in IB as well as multiple subject prizes.

He is grateful for his teachers and other Churchie staff who ‘consistently went above and beyond in their support’.

‘Most of all, I will always be grateful for the unfaltering support of the Dean of IB, Mrs Prosser, in all aspects of my IB journey,’ Matthew said. ‘I would also like to thank Ms Podesta, Mr Smith, Mme Washington, Mr Robertson, Dr Badran, Dr Abraham and Mr Krasniewicz.’

Matthew has received a UQ Vice-Chancellor’s Scholarship to study a Bachelor of Advanced Finance and Economics (Honours) at The University of Queensland, and we wish him all the best with his future studies.

Chun Lee’s top ATAR result was well-earned and reflective of his hard work during his years at Churchie. He said that receiving 99.95 was surprising but not too unexpected.

‘I had done fairly well in my external exams, only underperforming in a few subjects, so I knew my final ATAR result would be in the upper echelon,’ Chun said. ‘This didn’t stop me from feeling nervous leading up to my ATAR reveal, so I was relieved when I finally saw the 99.95 on my screen.’

In recognition of his academic achievement, Chun was awarded The C E Elliott Rhodes Scholarship Award for Proxime Accessit to the Dux in QCE, the QUT Science and Engineering Faculty Dean’s Award for Engineering Prize and several subject prizes at Speech Night.

Chun was also recognised at a state level for his efforts at the annual QCE Achievement Awards ceremony, receiving a Distinguished Academic Achievers award for his exceptionally high achievement across a diverse range of learning options. He was also awarded a QCE Subject Achievement Commendation for achieving the highest result in at least one General subject and a QCE Certificate of Academic Commendation for achieving an A in at least six General subjects.

During his time at Churchie, Chun also took advantage of the numerous cocurricular activities on offer, participating in debating, chess and music during his senior years. He found his peers and staff to be very supportive of his academic goals.

‘At Churchie, there was just so much support anywhere you looked in the form of peer tutoring and teachers willing to give up their lunches to answer any questions you had,’ he said. ‘Even on the weekends, I could count on my teachers to reply to my emails asking for assistance. I could not have achieved this result without them.’

Chun’s long-term career goal is to work as a doctor in Sydney or Melbourne, having been inspired by his local GP who has always been a role model to him. This year, he accepted a UQ Vice-Chancellors Scholarship to study a Bachelor of Biomedicine (Provisional entry into medicine) at The University of Queensland.

John Lu’s ATAR of 99.95 capped a very successful year, having been awarded The Tyrwhitt Memorial Cup for Dux of the School in QCE a nd several subject prizes at Speech Night.

He described the feeling of receiving his ATAR as ‘a huge sense of relief.’

‘It felt like all the trials and tribulations of this academic journey that has spanned the past six years had paid off and I could finally reap the rewards,’ John said. ‘To be honest, I was expecting to achieve this highly as I had put in an immense amount of work into this final year and I believe that with enough effort, anyone can attain whatever achievements they desire.’

John’s efforts were also recognised at the QCE Achievement Awards ceremony, where he was presented with a Distinguished Academic Achievement Achievers award for demonstrating exceptionally high achievement across a diverse range of learning options. In addition, he was awarded a QCE Subject Achievement Commendation for achieving the highest result in at least one General subject and a QCE Certificate of Academic Commendation for achieving an A in at least six General subjects.

During Years 11 and 12, John found Specialist Mathematics to be the easiest subject to motivate himself for, ‘as the subject matter was legitimately intriguing’, and the ‘friendly classroom competition’ pushed him to give it his all.

John also thrived in his cocurricular pursuits, participating in music, debating and basketball during his time at Churchie. His highlights included performing as part of Viking Vocalists 1 in Jazz Under the Stars, being named Choir Captain in 2022 and singing a solo at Speech Night in 2021.

While John is keeping his options open in terms of a career, he is currently studying a Bachelor of Science at The University of Melbourne, having received a Melbourne Chancellor’s Scholarship, and plans on proceeding to medicine for his postgraduate degree.

‘A great feeling of relief’ is how Dashiell Young described feeling upon first seeing his 99.95 ATAR result. He said it was not only the relief of finishing 13 years of schooling but achieving his goals after committing his best efforts to his study.

‘I believe one of the best feelings you can have in your academic journey is to have no regrets—to know you gave your all, and you achieved the best you could,’ Dashiell said. That feeling was well deserved, given Dashiell’s efforts during his senior years at Churchie. In recognition of his hard work, Dashiell was awarded The John Crampton Andrews Memorial Award for best exemplifying the four tenets of the School and an Academic Excellence award at Speech Night. At the School’s Academic Celebration Assembly in February 2023, Dashiell was presented with The Dr Paul McCarthy Memorial Bursary, which is awarded to a student who is proceeding to study science and ultimately medicine.

Dashiell’s efforts were well supported by the teachers and staff at Churchie, who he said ‘were always happy to supply extra worksheets if needed, or to answer questions on assignments, or to spend more time teaching difficult concepts.’ Cocurricular activities provided Dashiell with healthy breaks from his studies and contributed to his fondest school memories.

‘I have many highlights from my time at Churchie, such as the late nights on Army Cadets bivouacs, winning chess championships with the Premier team and improvising jazz in Big Band 1,’ Dashiell said. ‘Spending enjoyable time with mates or trying new activities will always be the times that I remember most from school.’ When weighing up his tertiary study options, Dashiell considered multiple fields, including computer science, engineering and law, but ultimately decided upon medicine.

‘I felt that my personal skills and strengths would thrive within a medical career, where I could provide the greatest direct benefit to society through the people that I treat,’ he said. Dashiell accepted a UQ Vice-Chancellor’s Scholarship to study Doctor of Medicine (MD) as part of the Provisional Entry for SchoolLeavers programme at The University of Queensland.

Surname First name

AIRD Sebastian

ALI Amir

ALLEN Audrich

ANNING Joe

AUSTIN Charlton

BATES Max

BICKMORE Jonah

BOND Matthew

BOWDEN Samuel

BRAHMBHATT Vrisan

BURGESS Charles

CAMPBELL Harry

CHRISTIE Max

CHUAN Peter

CHURCHWARD Jack

CLAYTON Jordan

CONN-TAYLOR Jack

COOPER Lachlan

COOPER Noah

CORNELIUS Oscar

DAVIES Oliver

DAY James

EASTON Rory

ELCOCK Blair

FINCH Harry

GAO Sean

GRIERSON Finlay

HADJIPETROU Oliver

HAMLET Bailey

HICKEY Hugo

HO Daniel

HUANG Anton

HUDSON Will

HUMPHREY Joshua

JOY Thomas