Hon Chris Carter
Minister of Education

30 May 2008 Media Statement
Top New Zealand scholars honoured

Education Minister Chris Carter congratulated New Zealand's top secondary school students at the annual Top Scholar Award Ceremony at Government House today.

The Governor General, The Honourable Anand Satyanand, presented awards to 28 students for their achievements in the 2007 New Zealand Scholarship exams.

Speaking at the awards ceremony, Chris Carter outlined the importance of a modern education system that stresses the significance of excellence and achievement as values and attitudes he wants to see all young New Zealanders strive for. Our 21st century education system must promote achievement and success.

“The 28 young people here today are being recognised for their outstanding achievements and they all have a great deal to be proud of,” Chris Carter said.

The Premier Award is granted to the top five to ten students in the country. All have achieved a minimum of three results at Outstanding level.

All recipients were in the top 10 of candidates nationally for at least three subjects in which they received Outstanding Awards. This year, eight students received a Premier Award worth $10,000 for three years.

Top Subject scholarships were also awarded to students with the single highest score in each of the 27 Scholarship subjects.

Top Subject scholars will receive $2000 a year for three years.

All Scholarship recipients must be enrolled in tertiary study in New Zealand in the years they receive monetary awards.

“These dedicated young men and women have demonstrated a passion for learning and achievement that has stretched beyond what is taught in the classroom and I wish them all the best for their future endeavours,” Chris Carter said.

ENDS

Scholarship 2007 Award winners

Premier Alissa Hackett Wanganui High School
Premier Chen Liu Rutherford College
Premier Chuan-Zheng Lee Mount Roskill College
Premier James Ruddell Saint Kentigern College
Premier Julie Zou Palmerston North Girls’ High School
Premier Rafe Hampson Wellington College
Premier Samuel Bookman Saint Kentigern College
Premier Zabin Farishta Lynfield College

Top Subject Scholars

Accounting Zabin Farishta Lynfield College
Art History Stephanie Thompson Diocesan School for Girls
Biology Chen Liu Rutherford College
Chemistry Michael James Plunkett Westlake Boys’ High School
Chinese Cathy Wang Avondale High School
Classical Studies Rafe Hampson Wellington College
Drama Scot Arthur Hall Hillcrest High School
Economics Andrew Gray John McGlashan College
English Frances Clark ACG Senior College
French Loren O'Sullivan Carmel College
Geography Paul Smith Scots College
German Lucy Cass Tauranga Girls’ College
Graphics Laura Ferguson Mount Aspiring College
History Louis Chambers Havelock North High School
Japanese Yoo-Been Ahn Westlake Girls’ High School
Latin Rafe Hampson Wellington College
Mathematics with Calculus Julie Zou Palmerston North Girls’ High School
Media Studies Stephanie Thompson Diocesan School for Girls
Music Studies Jesse Hart Saint Kentigern College
Physical Education Jericho Cleary Diocesan School for Girls
Physics Tobias Scott Glendowie College
Science Scott Thomas Western Heights High School
Spanish Ashton Goatley Auckland Grammar School
Statistics & Modelling Julie Zou Palmerston North Girls’ High School
Technology Carly Hitchcock Havelock North High School
Te Reo Māori Marcia Lavinia Jaine Pohatu-Brown Te Kura Kaupapa Māori o Te Waiu o Ngati Porou
Visual Arts Juliet Greer St Cuthbert’s College

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