The annual Scholars' Assembly was held on Friday 30 March in the FW Gamble Memorial Hall. Congratulations to all of the students cited below.
2011 Students whose names are to be inscribed on the Honours Board for Scholars
(Three or more scholarships or one or more outstanding scholarships)
From left: Elliot Varoy, Joshua Lawrence, Nikhil Magan, Nicholas Parish, Tea Williams
Joshua Lawrence (2007-2011)
Joshua Lawrence came to Mount Albert Grammar School as a Year 9 student in 2007 from Glen Eden Intermediate School. He had served as sports captain and shown particular aptitude for problem-solving. He was placed in an upper-stream class where his mathematical skills led to his selection for our NCEA super-accelerated group. He was also part of our Mathex team. The following year he was accelerated in science, taking Level One papers, and continued two years ahead in mathematics, sitting Level Two. In Year 11 he took calculus scholarship alongside accelerate courses in other NCEA subjects and he won a certificate in accounting. He again sat calculus scholarship in year 12 and last year entered the University of Aucklands Young Scholars Programme and scored an A- pass in a Stage I university paper in mathematics. In Year 13, he won a certificate in statistics. Joshua has passed all three levels of NCEA with excellence with Level Three endorsements in statistics and performance physical education.
Outside the classroom, Joshua has played badminton for the school for several years, cricket to senior B level, senior tennis as well as rugby, soccer and table-tennis.
In the examinations held at the end of last year, Joshua gained excellence endorsements in physical education and statistics, a merit endorsement in physics, and won three scholarships, in physics, statistics and calculus. These entitle him to an award of $2000 per year for three years.
Currently Joshua is studying for a conjoint degree in commerce and engineering at the University of Auckland.
Nikhil Magan (2007-2011)
Nikhil Magan came to Mount Albert Grammar School as a Year 9 student in 2007 from Blockhouse Bay Intermediate School. His reports spoke of a young man with strengths in logical thought, analysis and self-organization. He was placed in our top-stream class where he came second overall, including first place in French, German and technology. He sat NCEA Level One mathematics two years in advance as part of our accelerate programme and was presented with an award of excellence in the Goethe Society Examinations in German. The following year he was placed first in class, winning the Junior Dux award, the English Cup and first places in English, mathematics and science, while continuing his acceleration in mathematics (Level Two), and in Level One papers in science and English. In Year 11 he sat scholarship calculus alongside his other papers and won first prizes for his cohort in accounting and chemistry and the TG Moorcraft Physics Prize. He also received certificates in English, graphics and Year 12 Physics. In the Australian Chemistry Quiz he gained a High Distinction. In Year 12 he repeated calculus at scholarship level, this time winning an award, and also took Level Three physics and classical studies. During the year he again received a High Distinction in the Australian Chemistry Quiz.
At the end-of-year prize-giving he gained first places overall in Year 13 classical studies and chemistry.
He also received a certificate in physics and the Hanson Cup for Senior Progress and Endeavour. He was also chosen to participate in New Zealand's Next Top Engineering Scientist competition at the University of Auckland. Before the final term, he was part of the classical studies tour group to Italy and Greece. In the first semester lasts year he took Mathematics 153 as part of the Young Scholars' Programme at the University of Auckland and he passed with an A+.
At the end-of-year prize-giving, Nikhil won the Edgar Bell Memorial Senior Physics Prize and the Statistics Cup. In addition he came first overall in physics, biology and classical studies and was awarded certificates in chemistry and statistics. He received an ASB Bank Community Bursary Award and a John Williamson Scholarship. Most prestigious of all, he won the Auckland University Scholarship and also had the offer of a Leaders of Tomorrow Scholarship from Otago University. With the highest GPA in the school, he was the boys dux.
He has passed all three levels of NCEA with excellence (including Level Three with excellence one year early). Because of his high GPA in 2009 and 2010, Nikhil was awarded two scholar lions.
Outside the classroom, Nikhil has many interests. He has played soccer up to the Fourth XI level for the school and also for the Bay Olympic soccer club for some years. He has been active in the Indian community in the Gandhi Gruh Gujarati School which he attended for seven years, gaining top places consistently and where he first made his in-depth connection with his cultural roots in drama, dance and song. Indian dance is an area to which he has devoted considerable time. As a junior he attended a youth leadership camp run by the Chinmaya Mission New Zealand, an organization he has been a member of for some years after completing Gujarati School, and he also participated in their drama productions. He has been regularly involved in dancing for India Independence Day and has performed in the Wellington Town Hall, the Bruce Mason Centre and Aotea Centre. He also performed in a play based on the life of a Hindu god (Krishna). In the school, he participated in "Bring It On" a hip-hop competition, and the group won second place in the grand final. He also performed in our "Arts Alive" showcase event. His acting skills have also brought him an award for best actor in a negative role for a dance/drama production.
Nikhil has also played 20/20 cricket for the school.
Nikhil is a young man with a concern for others. Not only was he a member of St John's but he has regularly participated in the 40-hour Famine to help the less fortunate. This year he helped the school raise several thousand dollars in the "Shave For A Cure" campaign. As a prefect, he was a frequent mover in fundraising events, such as for the Christchurch Earthquake Appeal. Other roles within the school include being a member of the E-learning committee, heading the school's Academic Council and tutoring his peers in mathematics. In 2010 he did volunteer work at the Auckland City Library. Other service awards include the Duke of Edinburgh Bronze (which included a camping expedition in the Karangahake Gorge) and Silver, and he is currently working on the Gold. Even as critical examinations approached, he committed himself to preparation for the RWC Opening Ceremony.
In music, Nikhil learnt comprehensive theory and practical piano for six years through a Canadian programme MYC (Music for Young Children). Through this organization he won an international award for his compositional skill at the age of nine (first in NZ, fourth in the world). He is learning guitar currently and has also taken piano lessons at school.
In the examinations held at the end of last year, Nikhil gained three excellence endorsements in chemistry, statistics and physics, a merit endorsement in biology and won three scholarships, in physics, statistics and biology. These entitle him to an award of $2000 per year for three years.
Currently Nikhil is studying biomedical science, preparatory to applying for a medical degree at the University of Auckland.
Nicholas Parish (2007-2011)
Nicholas Parish came to Mount Albert Grammar School as a Year 9 student in 2007 from Balmoral Intermediate School. He was placed in an upper-stream class where he made fine progress overall and where his mathematics ability rose to prominence to the extent that he was invited to sit NCEA Level One two years in advance. The following year the acceleration continued with his sitting Level Two mathematics along with Level One papers in science. By Year 11 he was sitting calculus scholarship alongside five other Level One courses and he won first place in his cohort in geography. Last year he again took calculus scholarship and four Level Two courses and won first place overall in economics and a certificate in physics. He also won a Distinction award in the Australian Mathematics Competition. In the first university semester he easily passed paper 153 Mathematics at the University of Auckland under the auspices of the Young Scholars' Programme. At the end of the year he received a certificate in statistics. He has passed all three levels of NCEA with excellence. In recognition of his very high GPA in Levels One and Two, Nicholas was presented with two scholar lions.
Outside the classroom, Nicholas has played a full part in summer and winter sport. In summer, he plays cricket to First XI level and visited the United Kingdom and Europe recently on a very successful tour. While in Flanders, he was given the honour of laying a wreath on behalf of the school at the Menin Gate. Two years ago he participated in a coaching programme sponsored by NZ Cricket and consequently he has been coaching and mentoring young cricketers at the Cornwall Cricket Club, a commitment he wishes to extend at higher levels. For the last three years he has been part of the Auckland Central side which competes in the Auckland district tournament. This year he trains with and has been chosen for the U18 Auckland Central side. Nicholas also plays indoor cricket socially.
In winter Nicholas played soccer for the school for five years and was the vice-captain of the Third XI. On the club scene, he has played soccer for Three Kings United for eleven years and is captain of the U17 division one grade team. He is the leading goal scorer for his club side and both teams have won their grading rounds.
In the examinations held at the end of last year, Nicholas gained excellence endorsements in statistics and physics, merit endorsements in biology and geography, and won three scholarships, in chemistry, statistics and geography. These entitle him to an award of $2000 per year for three years.
Nicholas is currently studying first-year health sciences at Otago University with a view to a career in medicine.
Elliott Varoy (2007-2011)
Elliot Varoy came to Mount Albert Grammar School as a Year 9 student in 2007 from Glen Eden Intermediate School. In Year 8 he had already gained distinction certificates in English, mathematics and science in the University of NSW competitions. He was placed in our top-stream class where his special talents in mathematics were recognized by his placement in our NCEA class and also by his selection in the Mathex team. The following year his acceleration continued in mathematics, when he sat Level Two, and he also sat Level One papers in science and English. By year 11 he was studying calculus scholarship and Level Two physics, and his grade point average was so high he was awarded a scholar lion for his results in NCEA. The following year he again sat calculus scholarship but also took a university paper in mathematics through the Young Scholars Programme, scoring a B+. For the second time he was awarded a scholar lion for his Year 12 results.
Elliot won certificates in Physical Education Performance in years 11 and 12 as well as certificates in calculus and statistics in years 12 and 13 respectively. In his final year he received first prize in physics and was awarded the Statistics Cup. He passed all three levels of NCEA with excellence.
Outside the classroom, Elliot has played tennis for the school for five years, most recently at senior level. He has also represented the school in soccer and junior squash.
In the examinations held at the end of last year, Elliot gained an excellence endorsement in statistics, a merit endorsement in physical education, and won three scholarships, in physics, statistics and calculus. These entitle him to an award of $2000 per year for three years.
Currently Elliot is studying for a conjoint degree in commerce and engineering at the University of Auckland.
Tea Williams (2007-2011)
Tea Williams came to Mount Albert Grammar School as a Year 9 student in 2007 from Pasadena Intermediate School. He was placed in our top-stream class where he was accelerated one year ahead in mathematics. In Year 10 he became part of a much larger accelerate programme, comprising Level One NCEA papers in mathematics, science and English one year early. In Year 11 he sat Level Two mathematics alongside his five other Level One subjects and at the end-of-year prize-giving received first prize for his cohort in history and certificates in biology, English and performance physical education. He also gained a distinction in the Australian Chemistry Quiz. His high GPA in Level One earned him a scholar lion from the school. In 2010 he sat five subjects at Level Two and again was recognized at prize-giving with first place in biology and certificates in English and history. He has passed all three levels of NCEA, the first and third with excellence and the second with merit. Last year he came first in physical education and gained a certificate in history.
Tea is a very fine sportsman with exceptional talent, particularly in swimming. He has been our junior, intermediate (twice) and senior swimming champion and broken four intermediate and four senior records in the last two years. Last year he captained the swimming team. In Year 9 he was already in the Auckland Regional Development Swim Team and from that time his achievements have burgeoned.
He came ninth in the AKSS aquathon and in the open 200m backstroke Auckland championships he was placed fourth. From being a finalist in the NZ age-group championships in Year 10, he made five finals in Year 11 and in the last few years has won five silver medals and two bronze. He is part of the NZ Youth Development Swimming programme and he has participated in the Commonwealth Games swimming trials as well as trials for the World Championships (coming fifth and sixth). At the 2009 NZ Spring championships he made eleven finals winning two bronze and three silver medals and last year two gold medals, and he also won two gold medals in the Auckland relay championships. He has enjoyed many successes at AKSS meets and Auckland age-group competitions. Last year he again won a bronze at the Spring championships and received a first and a second in the AKSS champion of champions meeting, where our school won the Auckland competition. At NZSS level he has won one gold, one silver and one bronze. In 2010 he was a member of the NZ Tri-Series Swimming Team.
Swimming has obviously been his focus and the time required to train means there is little extra time for other pursuits, yet he still played junior tennis and was a member of our Auckland champion U13 football team. In Year 10 he again won the competition in the U14 team. In 2007 he was third in the 800m school athletics race and sixth in the junior cross-country. The following year he improved to second in the intermediate cross-country. Recently he played social soccer for a school team.
In recognition of his impressive sporting achievements Tea received two sports lions in the last two years. He sat on the sports committee and was appointed a prefect of the school for 2011. He also served on the Pacific Islands Committee, a group which identified ways to improve Pacific Island achievement and behaviour.
In the examinations held at the end of last year, Tea gained endorsements in history and physical education at excellence level, a merit endorsement in English, and won three scholarships, an outstanding scholarship in physical education, and two others, in biology and history. These entitle him to an award of $2000 per year for three years.
Currently Tea is studying Health Science at the University of Auckland, preparatory to applying for a medical degree.
National Scholarship Winners, 2011.
Awarded to students who achieve two or more NZ Scholarships or 1 or more outstanding scholarships: Matthew Denton, Prashanth Devarakonda, Jacob Green, Lucy Harrison, David Miller, Ayumu Ozawa, Thomas Southwell, Luke Wilson
Year 13 students from 2011 who returned for the Scholars' Assembly
Click here for a complete list of the recipients of scholar lions.