Erica Johnson, Tyson Wiegold, Paige Mazoudier and Louise Baldwin have been announced as Camden Haven High School’s top Higher School Certificate (HSC) top face to face students for 2014; Dominic Meredith was the top distance education student.
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According to Erica Johnson, her ATAR of 90.65 provides her with a range of study options.
“It’s a higher score than I was expecting, so I’ll have to make the time to sit down, think about it and make some big decisions,” she said cheerfully.
Erica attributes her success to dedicated teaching staff and her ability to make smart choices about study. Her advice for future HSC students is to work consistently through the final two years of school.
The fact that Erica was heavily involved in the school leadership team as 2014 School Captain and held down a busy part-time job makes Erica’s achievements all the more impressive.
“Being involved in the leadership team and with work helped me with my study and both were important in terms of finding balance,” Erica said.
Camden Haven High School staff say this year’s HSC students were a conscientious group.
“Overall the students performed extremely well in a variety of subjects,” said deputy principal Sharon Westman.
“Students performed exceptionally well in the following subjects in face to face - Agriculture, Mathematics General, PDHPE and Society and Culture; and in distance education - Dance, French Beginners, French Continuers, German Continuers and Japanese Beginners.”
“Many of those receiving ATARs have been accepted into the university and course of their choice.”
Lake Cathie student Melwin Nelapati is another academic high achiever. St Columba Anglican School’s dux for 2014, Melwin hopes his 98.05 ATAR will be enough to secure him a place in medical school.
A motivated and highly focused student, Melwin is genuinely excited about his exceptional results. He appears three times on the HSC Honour Roll and is one of 14% of St Columba students to appear in the Distinguished Achievers List, a result which placed the school in the top 100 in the state.
Melwin’s father Dr Sam Nelapati is well known in local circles, having set up the Lake Cathie Medical Centre in 2008. Melwin dismisses any suggestion he felt pressured to follow in his father’s footsteps. While his family have been very supportive, choosing medicine as a career was all Melwin’s idea.
“I did work experience a couple of years ago in the radiology department at Port base hospital and really enjoyed it,” Melwin said.
Like Erica Johnson, Melwin juggled study with leadership responsibilities as St Columba’s vice captain, along with full agenda of performing arts roles. His confident, yet cheeky style and sparkling wit made him a popular choice for MC or master of ceremony roles, which he managed with style.
His advice for upcoming HSC students is to work as hard as you can on all subject areas and to work smarter when it comes to staying on top of assessment and exam commitments. He also emphasised the importance of really wanting to do your best and on finding the confidence to think you can do well.
“It pays to set priorities on things that count,” Melwin said.
