2023 Student Captains

Academic Captains

Annika MacDonald

Annika is excited by her leadership role and helping to support other students with their academics, with a focus on the existing Peer Tutoring and Leap Reading programmes. She would like to encourage other students to feel more confident in their academic ability and to strive for success in areas they may not have tried before. A gifted academic, Annika achieved Level 3 with Excellence in Year 12 and has three New Zealand Scholarships. She won the top academic achievement award in Year 12. Annika plans to go to Medical School, either in Australia or New Zealand.

Gemma Lewis

Gemma is grateful for the opportunity to be an Academic Captain. She is excited to help improve the high standard of academic enjoyment and success at St Andrew’s, and to provide inspiration, support, and opportunities for students across all year levels and abilities. Gemma is helping to organise and promote the Science Club to provide more hands-on opportunities for Science. A top scholar, Gemma achieved NCEA Level 3 with Excellence in Year 12, has gained three New Zealand Scholarships and six ICAS Gold medals. She plans to study Science or Engineering at the University of Canterbury next year.

Daniel Robertson

Daniel says it is a privilege to be an Academic Captain. His goals include fostering a greater amount of Peer Tutoring in the College and continuing to supporting younger students through the Mathematics Club. He would like to encourage other students to strive to achieve at their highest level and help to create an environment where they have the ability to do so. Daniel is another high-achieving scholar, having passed NCEA Level 3 with Excellence in Year 12, and gained a New Zealand Scholarship and ICAS Gold medal. In 2024, he plans to study first year Health Sciences at the University of Otago.

Sport Captains

Amelia McAllister

Amelia is proud to be a Sport Captain, with her main goals to keep the St Andrew’s sporting culture strong and healthy, and to organise various sports events. Inclusivity and positivity are two key attributes that she and fellow Sport Captain, Alex Rippin, are keen to implement in their roles. Amelia has been involved in sport at the College since she started in Year 8. She loves the culture in team environments and is keen to role model this to younger students. An exceptional athlete, Amelia has played in two multiple championship-winning teams at St Andrew’s, the Girls’ 1st XI football team since Year 9, and the Senior A futsal team since Year 10. She has also represented Canterbury in football since 2019. Amelia is still deciding what subjects to study after leaving St Andrew’s, but is keen to go overseas to study and continue to play football.

Alex Rippin

Alex is honoured to be a 2023 Sport Captain. He is enjoying the opportunity to provide students with activities to compete in during the school week, particularly for those who might not otherwise participate in sports. Some of Alex’s highlights include the House basketball tournament, and the 1st XV versus Senior A netball game. A highly talented sportsman, Alex is captain of both the 1st XI hockey team and 1st XI cricket team. He has played in the 1st XI hockey team since Year 10, with the team finishing second at the national Rankin Cup last year. Alex has been in Canterbury age group teams since the U13 grade and competed in the national U18 tournament in 2022. Next year, he plans to study a Bachelor of Commerce at the University of Canterbury or take a gap year and do a trade.

Cultural Captains

Mia Walker

Mia is excited to work alongside Marco Leighs as a 2023 Cultural Captain. Together, they are organising Cultural Showcases, to give as many students as possible the opportunity to perform to the wider St Andrew’s community. Mia aims to create a welcoming space where students are supported and able to share their love of cultural activities. A gifted performer, Mia has been part of a wide range of cultural activities at St Andrew’s, performing in productions from Years 9–13, helping out backstage, singing in various choirs, and in 2022, running D-Cubed, a drama club for Year 9–10 students. Although her plans post-College are not finalised, Mia plans to move to Wellington in 2024, and would love to end up doing Performing Arts, especially musical theatre.

Marco Leighs

After being inspired by Cultural Captains from the past, Marco, is honoured to be in the role himself in 2023. He says the regular Cultural Showcases, organised with Mia Walker, are providing opportunities for students across all year levels to get in front of crowds and perform and showcase their work, whether they are part of a rock band, a Theatresports team, or want to show a short film made with a group of friends. Marco is incredibly multitalented. He has performed in numerous productions, including a star role in the 2023 Senior Production, Bright Star. He also sings in Staccoro, is an accomplished filmmaker, a member of Theatresports, and is an Art student. Next year, Marco is taking a gap year and plans to work at a boarding school in Northampton, England, as a teacher’s assistant, and teach drama and film to young students.