Watch out world – here they come

Wakatipu High School has produced some great successes over the years, but this year’s leading line-up of high achievers has to be right up there.

We caught up with the school’s four head students and Dux to find out how this year’s goals and aspirations have panned out and what’s next.

Head student Annika Thornton has emerged with a totally new outlook on life and appreciation for time in the outdoors, after completing Outward Bound. It’s been a “whirlwind” year of responsibility and Annika says she’s learned she needs to “share the load a little”. She’s proud of the new Feedback Forum, both digital and in person. “Students can more easily communicate with us, and we can point them in the right direction for resolution, whether it be queries about new water fountains, bullying or mental health issues.” She’s also been heavily involved with regional and national student councils, connecting with other high schools in the region to tackle issues together. A member of the new National Student Council, she says it’s already creating a strong voice in the media to effect change. She’s off to Wellington to study law and politics, international relations, and Spanish, and looking forward to continuing her love of Kapa Haka, jazz and salsa.

 

Head student Lachy Boniface has made an impressive start to his international ice hockey career, all while balancing school study, 20 hours weekly training and school leadership. “I’ve had to sacrifice in some areas, but this year has definitely cemented me. I’ve liked collaborating with others and helping them grow,” he says. “It’s made me want to strive for leadership.” A member of the NZ Junior (U18) Ice Hockey World Championship division winning team in South Africa this year, Lachy says he’s hoping to get the captaincy of the NZ Junior team this year. His next goal is to make the NZ U20s. Leadership has been a team effort at school with fabulous lead prefects doing an enormous amount of work. He’s proud they could have an impact with a student-led Climate Change protest and a new school Breakfast Club initiative. “This was for anyone, no matter what background. It became really popular. There was no seclusion.” Lachy’s off to Otago University next year to study a Bachelor of Commerce, hopefully leading to private equity or investment.

 

Deputy head student Sammy Fookes, a national junior athletics champion, Central Otago U18 Women’s Hockey captain and 2023 Proxime Accessit, says this year’s made her value time with those closest to her. “The happiness I felt seeing those I know experience and achieve awesome things this year has outweighed what I'd ever feel focusing just on my own experiences,” she says. Her biggest challenges have been learning to use Google Calendar and organise meetings. A generous scholarship – the University of Auckland Top Achiever Scholarship - which awards all-round achievement, will see her pursue a Bachelor of Science with a Biomedical Specialisation, hopefully using that as a route into Undergraduate Medicine. It’s a competitive field but she hopes to become a doctor, mixing her love for constant learning, desire to help others and interest in the sciences. Sammy’s ultimate would be to provide medical care in developing countries with travel a high priority too.

 

Deputy head student Marley King Smith has been a force to be reckoned with on the water this year, competing, aged 17, in the NZ U19 Men’s 4X Rowing Crew at the World Rowing Championships in Paris. He’s won Otago and Canterbury (adult) single sculls, bronze at the NZ National Men’s Rowing Championships, and gold in national Maadi Cup events. The Central Otago Junior Sportsman of the Year says while he spent three months training in Cambridge and time in France, it was an honour to come home to perform at the school haka and waiata competition. It also meant so much to be able to run this year’s Legacy Seat project, putting some meaning and Maoritanga behind it. “We named it ‘Kanohi Ki Te Kanohi, which means ‘Face to Face’, highlighting the importance of face-to-face communication and eye contact.” In September, Marley starts a four-year scholarship at the University of Washington, in Seattle, known for producing top Olympic rowers. 

 

Dux Elise Edmonds had already achieved Level 3 NCEA with excellence entering her final year but decided to redo the classes and put her best foot forward. “Thankfully I did, or I wouldn’t be Dux,” she says. “Becoming Dux was never on my radar. I never even contemplated it.” She’s now hoping she’s paved the way for younger students to excel at non-core subjects with photography and philosophy among her top-level achievements. Her Dux award is also likely to assist eligibility to study at Sydney Law School, at the University of Sydney, with the option of a double degree in law and commerce, and Duxes usually favoured. She’s now got to wait for her January NCEA results to confirm these plans. Whatever her chosen vocation, humanitarian “people work” overseas is hopefully on the horizon. As lead prefect of the school Wellbeing Council Elise worked on Pride Week initiatives and setting up Students Against Sexual Harm (SASH) at the school.