YEAR 12 students around the country faced their moment of truth today as HSC and ATAR results were released, and plenty of pupils from Singleton had something to smile about.
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Twelve students received a band 6 at St Catherine's College, and five reached the same feat at Singleton High School (SHS).
Several of those have more than one reason to be happy too, with SHS's Amy Fellowes recording four band 6s for Community and Family Studies, Personal Development, Health and Physical Education, Society and Culture and Textiles and Design, Samuel Harrison securing two for Agriculture and Business Studies (he was also SHS Dux) and Isabelle Miller picking up three for Community and Family Studies, Society and Culture and Visual Arts.
As for St Catherine's College, they have a truly special academic of their own, with Charlie Ray not only getting a band 6 in Industrial Technology, Mathematics Extension 1 and Mathematics Advanced, but receiving the Australian Defence Force Future Innovators Award.
His abilities and potential stood out among 2,300 students from over 1,500 schools across Australia, and the honour was not lost on the year 12 graduate.
"STEM allows you to think in a very different and logical way, which leads to new creations and innovation," he said.
"I am very honoured that the ADF has invested in my potential."
In terms of his results, the 17-year-old said he was sceptical about how he went following the exams. For some subjects the syllabus had changed at the beginning of last year and pupils only had one year's worth of exams to study as practice, which threw him off on the day as this year's test was quite different.
The impacts of COVID-19 were also a struggle, but he believes he did the best he could with "the hand that we were dealt this year".
However, he managed to pull through and produce an excellent end product which has already seen him be accepted to the University of Newcastle next year to study Mechanical Engineering. In regards to his future plans, Charlie is keeping his options open.
"Not entirely [sure], the mines are probably a good options given where we are, and I'm interested in that kind of stuff so I'll probably get a job in the mines," he said.
"Hopefully I can expand my horizons, possibly work overseas and work all around Australia."
Joining him at the University of Newcastle will be Amy Fellowes, who has been accepted for a Bachelor of Social Work. She is a uncertain about what her plans beyond university are, but given her academic achievements she is unlikely to lack suitors.
She admitted four band 6s was not something she was anticipating, and also had an alternative take on having to work on assessments from home for much of the year.
"I was in shock, I was not expecting it at all, it was a bit of a surprise," she said.
"I did put in a lot of effort, especially into my assessments, but I'm still in a bit in shock but I did try my best.
"I actually didn't mind it [home study] at all, I quite like just working by myself and it worked pretty well in my favour I think, didn't put much of a disadvantage at all."
Other band 6 results achieved across Singleton's schools were Braedon Messenger - Earth and Environmental Science (SHS), Zoe Tudor - Biology (SHS), Mark Ashford - Legal Studies (St Cath's), Jesse Bates - Mathematics Advanced (St Cath's), Eva Boticki - English Extension 2 (St Cath's), Jade Churchill - Mathematics Standard 1 Examination (St Cath's), Christiaan de Wet - Mathematics Standard 2 (St Cath's), Daneie Geddes, - Legal Studies (St Cath's), Ellie Hicks - Music 1 (St Cath's), Tyzaac McCarthy-Wulf - Music 1 (St Cath's), William Meyn - Music 1 (St Cath's), John Nalus - Music 1 and Mathematics Advanced (St Cath's), Tema Whatham - Mathematics Advanced.
