Pakuranga has once again shown its academic prowess at the Top Scholars Award Ceremony in Wellington, with local schools producing three of New Zealand’s eleven Premier Scholars and a fourth placing best in their subject.
Yang Fan Yun, from Macleans College, and Andrew Chen and Daniel Mar, from Saint Kentigern College, were named as Premier Scholars for 2018, while Christopher Dirks, also at Saint Kentigern College, was named top of his subject in Design and Visual Communications.
To be named a Premier Scholar, students must achieve at least four New Zealand Scholarship subjects, with at least three of those at Outstanding level. Yang Fan also received the overall award for Academic Excellence.
Pakuranga MP Simeon Brown says he was excited to meet these four outstanding students at the Award Ceremony in Wellington this week to congratulate them personally.
“Pakuranga is home to the best schools in the country, and this is clearly reflected in the academic success of Yang Fan, Andrew, Daniel, and Christopher,” says Brown.
“To be named as one of just eleven Premier Scholars in the entire country and to achieve first in a subject are incredible achievements, and I know these four students will feel proud seeing their hard work over many years pay off.”
Yang Fan Yun has been accepted into Stanford University, one of the most prestigious in the United States, where he will be studying Economics, Human Biology, and Public Policy. He wishes to pursue a career in medical research and improve equal access to affordable healthcare around the world.
Andrew Chen this year started his studies toward a Bachelor of Science at the University of Auckland and wishes to specialise in mathematics or computer science. He is keen to make a positive contribution to the information sciences profession.
Daniel Mar is also at the University of Auckland this year studying Computer Science and Finance, with a career in investment banking in the technology sector on the horizon.
