2020 will go down as one of the most extraordinary years of our life time, if not the most extraordinary. But spare a thought for those students that had to sit their HSC this year.

When the HSC results were released yesterday, there were some proud schools, teachers and parents as well as some very happy students.

Trinity College student Sriya Vure was College Dux with an Australian Tertiary Admission Rank (ATAR) of 97.90.

ATAR compares a students HSC achievement against all others in Australia (except Queensland) and ranks them with the highest score being 99.95.

Trinity College also celebrated 24 students that were recognised as Distinguished Achievers and 38 individual Band 6 results (Band 6 being the top band with a score between 90 and 100).

Trinity's other High Achievers included Arky Ryall, Torsten Mundt, Ruby du Preez-Parks, Imogen Dwyer, Indi Gambold and Latesha Adams.

Most students filled relieved at finishing their HSC in 2020 but how difficult was it?

Student Cody Glover said "Very difficult, I lost all motivation when coronavirus came and it was very hard to keep motivated but through support from friends and family I was able to keep a good mindset about after the HSC."

While Ella Robertson said "It has been difficult on various different levels however I think the relationships I have with my friends, staff of the college and family have really helped me to be optimistic and keep pushing through."

The Rivers Secondary College was also celebrating their students success in the HSC.

With 179 HSC students completing their HSC this year, the College was able to score 15 band 6 grades, and 83 band 5 grades across the three campuses. 

In extension classes there was a further 1 band E4 and 7 E3’s. Across the College, subjects including Physics, Metals and Engineering and Industrial Technology continue to perform above state average and students continue to excel in Mathematics, English and the Creative and Performing Arts.

Executive Principal for 2020, Mr Ian Davies says given the year we have had, every student who completed their HSC needs to be congratulated, and these results indicate the determination of the students and staff to succeed.

At Kadina High Campus Ben Gellatly achieved an ATAR of 95.55 and HSC results including Band 6’s in Mathematics, Advanced and Networking and Hardware, Band 5’s in Physics and English Advanced, and an E3 in Mathematics Extension 1, Ben is extremely happy with his results.

“I’m really thankful to be a part of Kadina High Campus, the teachers were really supportive and went above and beyond to help during a difficult year. Really looking forward to studying health or engineering at UNI next year.”

While Lachlan Roberts achieved an ATAR of 95.20 including and HSC results including Band 6’s in Biology, Physics and Extension Two Mathematics, Band 5’s in Chemistry and English Advanced, Lachlan has excelled in his studies.

“I was lucky enough to be taught by educators with deep technical knowledge of their subject area and who pushed me to produce higher quality work. Their expertise, along with a strong competition in our classes, has been the standout aspect of my HSC year and I can’t thank my teachers and peers enough.

"I am planning to study Bachelor of Medical Science in USYD in 2021, majoring in Drug Design and Development".

 At Richmond River Campus Ursula Bennett scored an ATAR of 94.3 and HSC results including 4 Band 6 and 1 Band 5 result, Ursula is a distinguished achiever.

When she was asked about her results, Ursula said: ‘I am very happy with my results. I’m thankful for all the support and encouragement I’ve received from the staff at RRHC which allowed me to achieve so well. The genuine passion of my teachers was a big motivator throughout this hectic year. I thoroughly enjoyed studying Japanese and Biology, and my results in Extension 2 Mathematics have definitely helped me get the marks I needed’.

‘I’ve received an offer to study a Bachelor of Biomedical Science at SCU in the Gold Coast, a conditional offer for the Sir Samuel Griffith Scholarship at Griffith University, and been invited for an interview as part of applying for the Bachelor of Medicine, Bachelor of Surgery at JCU Townsville.

While I’m still not sure what city I’ll be in a few months from now, I’m excited to see what the future will hold!’

The 2020 HSC year was best summed up by Lismore High Campus student Alyssa McDonald.

“Year 12 was not a normal year! COVID 19 presented many challenges none the least being the isolation of online learning. Our teachers supported us throughout but the lack of motivation trying to learn in a home setting was difficult to overcome. I found it hard returning to school, to get back in the groove because we had been away so long. However, I have learnt how to overcome challenges and build some resilience…so it has been worth it."

"This year has also brought into perspective that school isn’t everything, that life goes on, no matter how year 12 went or how my results turned out. I have studied hard and already have entry to Southern Cross University via early entry for Biomedical Science. I have also been awarded a Chancellors Scholarship which will make uni life a lot more manageable.”

Congratulations to all those now, ex-students who went through a one in a life time pandemic and achieved some amazing results.