Kelly O'Dwyer (Higgins, Liberal Party) Share this | Hansard source

I am delighted to rise today to congratulate the 12 recipients of the 2013 Australian Student Prize living in my electorate of Higgins. This award is a significant honour, recognising 500 exceptional secondary students across Australia for their academic achievements. Students in my electorate who received this award include Nicholas Liu of Scotch College, who achieved the maximum score of 50 in chemistry, English language and mathematical methods, and the maximum ATAR of 99.95; Feliks Zemdegs of St Kevin's College, who achieved a perfect study score in English, came first in economics and won the Rubik's Cube world championship; Bernadette Toohey of Sacre Coeur, who scored 50 in global politics and Australian history and achieved the maximum ATAR of 99.95; Roshan Selvaratnam of Melbourne Grammar School, who attained the maximum score of 50 in specialist mathematics and Chinese second language and the maximum ATAR of 99.95; Jordan Santucci of Melbourne Grammar School, who attained the maximum score of 50 in English and the maximum ATAR of 99.95; Natalie Perera of Mac.Robertson Girls' High School, who achieved a maximum score of 50 in literature; Georgia Formosa of Korowa Anglican Girls' School, who achieved a score of 47 in mathematical methods; Michelle Foo of Mac.Robertson Girls' High School, who achieved study scores of 49 in accounting and mathematical methods; Michael Fisher of Bialik College, who achieved a score of 47 in further mathematics and in religion and society; Sarah Barrie of Lauriston Girls' School, who achieved a perfect IB score of 45 and the Higgins Medal in 2012; Caroline Ritchie of Methodist Ladies' College, who achieved three perfect study scores in English, French and literature and the maximum ATAR of 99.95; and, finally, Catherine Perry of Presbyterian Ladies' College, who achieved a perfect IB score of 45, who was school captain and who, I am proud to say, actually now works in my office.

Every one of these students should be very proud of their achievements. I also congratulate the schools, their principals and their staff, who work so very hard in order to ensure that their students receive the very best education. I would also like to congratulate the King David School, Melbourne High School and St Catherine's School, who have had students—though not constituents of Higgins—who received Australian Student Prizes. These schools, of course, are leading schools in my electorate of Higgins. I also acknowledge the families and friends of these students, whose patience and understanding helped them achieve their best. To this end I have invited each of the students, their families and their principals to a morning tea in my electorate office, in order to personally congratulate them on their exceptional achievements.

I am firmly of the belief that the recognition of the pursuit of excellence is vital, as it illustrates the importance of endeavour and the transformative power of education and inspires all of us to achieve the very best in our chosen pursuits in life. I remember the impact that it had on me when I was a student and I received my Australian Student Prize. I know it might be bit of a shock to some of the parents out there, but they too could find that those students who received that prize might find themselves in the national parliament of Australia.

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