NEW ZEALAND IB DIPLOMA TOP SCHOLARS’ AWARDS CEREMONY

NEW ZEALAND IB DIPLOMA TOP SCHOLARS’ AWARDS CEREMONY

The success of some of New Zealand’s finest young scholars was celebrated at the annual International Baccalaureate (IB) Diploma Top Scholars’ Awards Ceremony at Government House on Tuesday night.

The ceremony, hosted by His Excellency, Lieutenant General the Right Honourable Sir Jerry Mateparae, Governor General of New Zealand and attended by top IB Diploma students, their families, IB Heads Caucus of NZ, School Heads and academic dignitaries from throughout the country, recognised the Top Scholars’ success and the recent growth of the IB in New Zealand. His Excellency addressed the guests and presented the awards.  

Recently released 2013 results for the International Baccalaureate (IB) Diploma show that 74 of the 451 students who finished the two-year course in New Zealand last year scored 40 or more marks out of a possible 45. At a little over 16 per cent, this is more than twice the world average for the internationally recognised qualification.

Of these 74 high-achieving students, eight achieved a perfect score of 45, placing them in the top 0.2% of candidates worldwide. This is the first time such a large group has achieved this result in New Zealand.

PERFECT RESULTS FOR TOP SCHOLARS

The following students achieved a perfect score of 45 in their IB Diploma:

Isobel Campbell – Kristin School

Isobel Campbell was IB Dux of Kristin School in 2013, receiving academic excellence awards in all of her subjects. A top student of science, she took part in the National Science and Technology Forum and was selected to go to the London International Youth Science Forum. In her final school year she led her peers as a Senior House Captain, completed her Duke of Edinburgh Gold award, served as a student librarian and in the school’s Jane Goodall’s Roots and Shoots group. Also a talented horse rider, Isobel represented Kristin School in a number of events and dedicated time to the Riding for the Disabled Association.

Jenny Cao – St Cuthbert’s College

Jenny was awarded joint Dux at St Cuthbert’s College in 2013. In both Year 11 and Year 12 Jenny was selected as the Trust Board Scholar and was also awarded a Scholar Badge and Significant Scholar Award for her outstanding examination results. Jenny received High Distinction in the Australian Mathematics Competition and placed in the top 100 in the Eton Press Senior Mathematics Competition. As well as excelling academically, Jenny is a talented musician and contributed to the College as Leader of the Communications Committee.

Cici Guo – St Cuthbert’s College

Cici’s outstanding academic results earned her an Academic Excellence in International Baccalaureate award in 2013. In addition, Cici was awarded a St Cuthbert’s College Scholar Badge and Significant Scholar Award for her excellent examination results in Year 11 and Year 12. Cici balanced her studies with co-curricular involvements including tennis, tramping, singing in two choirs and performing as part of the Korean Cultural Group. Giving of her time and energy to others, Cici coached debating teams, tutored younger students in physics and mathematics and worked as a student librarian. 

Karin Ho – Diocesan School for Girls

Karin was Dux at Diocesan School for Girls in 2013. In Year 12 she was awarded the Dorothy Shrewsbury Bursary as the top student and gained scholarships in English and Chemistry. The same year Karin was selected for the NZ International Biology Olympiad Training Camp, a year ahead of other Year 13 students. In 2012 she received a Gold Award for the Chemistry Olympiad Examination. Each year since Year 9 she has been awarded Academic Honours and the Board Scholarship at Diocesan, as well as five Gold Medals in the American National Latin Exams. At 14 she received her ATCL in Piano with Distinction and in Year 11 won the prestigious Rönisch Piano Competition. She also finds time to volunteer at Kidsline to counsel New Zealand children.

Shruti Iyer – Queen Margaret College

Shruti has been a pupil at Queen Margaret College from Year 1 in 2000. At the 2013 Prize-giving she was awarded a Senior Scholar Award for Outstanding Academic Excellence, the Cup for Best All Rounder and the Marion McCree Prize for Service to the Arts. A talented violinist, Shruti has been selected as a member of the National Youth Orchestra, the Wellington Youth Orchestra and the New Zealand Secondary Schools’ Symphony Orchestra. Shruti has completed her Gold Duke of Edinburgh’s Hillary Award. She has also been a Year 7 Mentor, a Badminton Coach and Sports Captain and attended the National Young Leaders Conference 2013.

Tamara Jenkin – Queen Margaret College

Tamara received a Senior Scholar Award for Outstanding Academic Excellence and the Templer Cup for Debating at the 2013 Prize-giving. An excellent communicator, she has received many public speaking awards and selection for the Wellington Regional Debating Team. Tamara has been very involved in the wider life of the Queen Margaret College as a coach and as a member of various musical productions and debating groups. Tamara has also been chosen as a UNICEF Youth Ambassador and as a member of the Sir Peter Blake Youth EnviroLeader’s Forum.

Yang (Young) Lu – Auckland International College

Young was both Dux of Year 11 and her graduating Year 13 class at Auckland International College. Outside of her academics, she is also dedicated to international development, becoming one of three Youth Ambassadors for World Vision in 2013, where she travelled to Papua New Guinea as part of the 40-Hour Famine campaign. Young also led her school’s Environmental Concerns Committee, Chamber Music Group, Investment Society and was chief editor of the student run magazine MOSAIC. She was awarded the prestigious Willmann Cup for excellence in creativity and action upon graduation. In 2013, she was also placed 2nd nationally in the NZ Economics Competition.

Sobitha Manoharan – St Cuthbert’s College

Academically, Sobitha achieves consistently at the highest level while balancing co-curricular activities, both sporting and cultural. In addition, during her final year at St Cuthbert’s College, Sobitha was a Prefect and Deputy Head Girl. She received a prize for Top Academic Excellence in International Baccalaureate in 2013 and was awarded a Scholar Badge and Significant Scholar Award for her outstanding examination results in Year 11 and Year 12. Sobitha is a recipient of the University of Auckland Scholarship.

THE IB DIPLOMA

The IB Diploma is considerably more than a prestigious academic qualification. It is a rigorous pre-university course of studies that meets the needs of highly motivated secondary school students between the ages of 16 and 19 years. Designed as a comprehensive two-year curriculum, the Diploma Programme incorporates the best elements of many national education systems.

Consisting of six subject areas including native and acquired languages, social sciences, experimental sciences, mathematics and the arts, the Diploma programme is designed to be academically challenging and holistically balanced. In addition to their six chosen courses, students are challenged to broaden their educational experience through community service, self-directed research (in the form of a 4000-word extended essay) and critical examination in the Theory of Knowledge.

New Zealand Schools offering the IB Diploma programme include ACG Senior College, Auckland International College, Diocesan School for Girls, John McGlashan College, Kristin School, Queen Margaret College, Saint Kentigern College, Scots College, St Cuthbert’s College, St Margaret’s College, St Peter’s School Cambridge and Takapuna Grammar School.