Three Te Kura o Tititea Mount Aspiring College (MAC) 2023 senior students have been awarded prestigious New Zealand scholarships in recognition of their outstanding academic performance. 

Year 13 student Amy Benson and two former students Jackson Duguid and Nina Lee Smith (both Year 13 students in 2023) have been recognised as top secondary school scholars in English.

Jackson also attained an Outstanding Scholar Award for placing in the top 40 to 60 students in the country. 

To be awarded the New Zealand Scholarship, students must complete an exam (additional to their end-of-year exams) and show a deep understanding of a subject, demonstrate high-level critical thinking, and the ability to apply their understanding to complex situations. 

“Amy, Nina and Jackson all have an amazing ability to see texts as social commentary and artistic constructions, combined with a driving intelligence and academic resilience,” MAC English teacher Fiona Gibson said.

Scholarship winner Amy Benson said she enjoyed the opportunity to enhance her understanding of literature and improve her ability to respond to exam questions.

Undertaking the scholarship assessment can be beneficial for students in their futures, head of learning area for English Joanne Waide said.

“The English Scholarship programme offers students the opportunity to engage with critical texts and explore broader societal issues from a perspective similar to what they'll encounter at tertiary level.”

Joanne said as well as the three students who achieved scholarship, a number of other students came “very close”.

“I applaud the efforts of all the students who undertook this academic challenge.” 

Looking ahead, both Nina and Jackson are considering studying at American universities while Amy is continuing her Level 3 studies at MAC while also undertaking tertiary-level studies in maths, astronomy, and philosophy.