Academic Prize Giving

Click here to view a full list of award recipients

At the beginning of each new school year the St Joseph’s College community comes together to celebrate the academic achievements of students from the previous year.

The timing of this event, usually after the first full week of classes in Term 1, serves to motivate students in their studies and reinforce the strong culture of academic excellence and hard work that is integral to the Joeys spirit.

On Friday 29 January the College community celebrated the Annual Academic Prize Giving for 2009. On a very warm night in the Brother Emilian Hall, the College’s highest achieving students from Year 7 to Year 11 in 2009 were presented with medallions, plaques and certificates in acknowledgement of outstanding academic efforts, commitment and enthusiasm for learning.

A highlight of the awards evening is the acknowledgement and affirmation of the College’s highest achieving HSC students from 2009. This year 18 boys, each of whom received an ATAR (Australian Tertiary Admission Rank) over 95.0, were invited back to the College with their families to celebrate their remarkable achievements in the HSC and to share their plans for the future.

The 2009 Dux of the College, James McGrath, spoke of the commitment he had made to his studies whilst at Joeys and his pride at being awarded the Dux of such a well respected College.

The guest speaker and presenter for the evening was Professor Ron McCallum. As he shared the story of his inspiring life journey, Professor McCallum reminded the Joeys community of the need for understanding and humility in all we do.

Throughout the evening, the College’s Director of Teaching and Learning, Mr Lee MacMaster, called on the boys currently in Years 7 to 12 to work hard and make sacrifices in their pursuit for high grades and examination results, as academic success was something to be very proud of. He said the 2009 HSC high achievers were fine role models and asked students in all year groups to work hard to emulate their achievements. 

“It is OK to be good academically – engaging in learning has significant rewards. It is OK to study, to try to do your best, to seek and take teacher’s advice, to complete your homework and assignments on time and to enjoy what you learn. Success is a product of attitude, determination, commitment and good old hard work,” he said

“Don’t be frightened to succeed academically – be proud – just like these boys and all the boys who have achieved their ‘personal bests’ are. What a wonderful building block education is. Balance is the key to success – academic work plus sport plus social plus spiritual plus cultural plus family pursuits.”

Headmaster, Mr Ross Tarlinton, said he hoped the evening inspired students to strive for their own best performance, “regardless of whether or not it culminates in an award such as these given tonight”.

“For our boys I would hope there is a covert message and direction in the College towards their personal best performance.  I am extremely proud of our academic outcomes and the very high level of academic achievement recognised here this evening. This recognition tonight is equally for those with top marks and for those recognised for extraordinary achievement in their personal performance and attitude... My congratulations to you on achieving the recognition celebrated here tonight.”

“I would also like to congratulate the Old Boys here tonight on the academic recognition of their HSC outcomes. It was with great delight that we learnt of your achievements and the extraordinary joy that this has brought to you and your families. What is not necessarily expressed in the numbers that go with these awards is the commitment and perseverance shown by these young men. I find them to be inspirational and I am humbled by their efforts.  You are a great example for me to follow.”

Both Mr MacMaster and Mr Tarlinton thanked parents and families for attending the prize giving and for their ongoing support of the boys.

See the full list of award recipients here