Matamata College

Previous Student of the Weeks

Jessica Schweizer Year 9 student Jessica Schweizer is already making her mark at the College with her positive attitude and strong desire to do well. Jessica is currently playing the Flugel Horn in the “Smithy” bank and is also a member of 9B Netball. She loves music and reading andalso enjoys PE and French. She hopes to be a language teacher when she leaves school and says that College is great with all the opportunities it offers students.	Alicia Catlin Year 13 student Alicia Catlin relishes the challenges of being a senior student and the leadership opportunities it presents. Alicia is a Year 9 Peer Support student and enjoys helping the juniors settle into school. Alicia passed Level 2 with Merit and has a strong Science course this year taking Stats, Chemistry, Biology, Physics and Sports Science and hopes to study Physiotherapy at Otago next year. Alicia came second in the Senior Girls’ Swimming Champs and represents the school at Touch.	Georgia Drysdale-Dunn Year 11 student Georgia Drysdale-Dunn has many strings to her bow. She is a very strong academic student with a particular interest in English and Biology. She has a lead role in this year’s school musical “Smithy”, is trialling for the Hockey 1st XI, won the Junior Speech competition in 2008 and in her spare time learns the piano and enjoys singing. She is also an enthusiastic and skilled cook and enjoys cooking Italian food in particular. Georgia is a little undecided about her career but perhaps training to be a chef or working in the environmental sphere are possibilities.	Danielle Merry Year 13 student Danielle Merry is over the moon having recently gained selection in the North Island Secondary School Volleyball Team that travels to Australia later this term. Danielle is managing to meet the demands of playing Volleyball and Netball at the moment – she is a member of the New World College A Netball Team – and is also doing well in her academic work. She is Tui House Deputy Leader and plans on attending Waikato University next year to study towards a degree either in Human Resources or Communications.
Jacqueline Louw Learning stuff that she didn't know before is the challenge Jacqueline loves and which makes her highly motivated to succeed. Jacqueline recently competed in the Brain Bee challenge and has been selected for the second round to be held at the Auckland University Medical School in June. Jacqueline loves all her subjects and has her sights set on a career either in Neuroscience or Architecture. She represents the College in the 1st XI Soccer Team and also plays for the Matamata Swifts Women’s Team on Sundays.	James Norris Year 12 student James Norris is a strong all round student with talents in a range of areas. He is a member of the Year 12 scholars’ group after strong achievement at Level 1 and is aiming to pass Level 2 with Excellence this year. He has a lead role in this year’s school production of "Smithy", is in the 2nd XI Cricket Team and trialling for the 1st Rugby XV. James plans to have a GAP year in 2011 and then study law at Otago University.	Jordan Hicks Student of the week this week is Jordan Hicks of Year 13 who recently completed his first ever marathon! This is an outstanding effort from this passionate runner finishing 72nd in his age group in a time of 3 hours 33minutes and 43 seconds for the 42km Rotorua Marathon course. While the rest of his Year 13 Sport Science class trained last term as part of their course for 100km a cycle challenge Jordan focused his training towards his marathon goal. In addition to Sport Science Jordan really enjoys Physics, Chemistry and Biology and aims to continue this interest in the Sciences at University with the plan of studying Physiotherapy – and of course to keep running!	Joseph Freeman Student of the week is Joseph Freeman. Joseph is a great all round student who performs well in the classroom as well as outstandingly on the sports field. His favourite subjects are Physical Education and Science so it is no surprise he hopes his studies will lead to a career in the Sport Science area. Joseph is a very talented soccer player and is just as talented on the Cricket pitch. Not only did he captain the Matamata College Year 9 Cricket team to be Waikato Champions but he picked up the cup for the most runs by a player in the Year 9 provincial competition. Scoring over 250 runs this season we look forward to seeing Joseph progress through to the 1st XI and developing his sporting prowess further.
Scott Darroch Year 10 student Scott Darroch is a very busy young man, juggling the demands of playing Squash to a high level with school. Scott, a C1 grade player, recently won the Division 1 Title at the Matamata Squash Club tournament and has been selected as a member of the B.O.P. Squash team to travel to Australia and Malaysia for tournaments later this year. Scott trains three nights a week, plays tournaments most weekends and hopes for a career in coaching squash, or as a professional squash player. Scott enjoys Woodwork and Graphics and in his rare spare time, enjoys clay target shooting.	Tara Philips Year 13 student, Tara Phillips is making the most of her senior year. Tara is Tui House Captain, has been selected for College A Netball and is in the Girls’ Touch team that is travelling to Australia in the holidays. She loves a challenge and is looking forward to her Sports Science Challenge of cycling 100km as part of her course work this week. Tara hopes to train as a flight attendant with Air New Zealand and travel the world.	Thomas Houlahan Student of the week is Thomas Houlahan. Thomas is in second year at Matamata College. He attends the Totara Learning Centre and has become a good friend to all his classmates. He works very hard in all his lessons and really enjoys Maths and Science. He has had a successful year so far and performed well in his tests, which he is justifiably proud of. It has been great to watch Thomas participate in the Special Olympics soccer with his class. Well done Thomas!	Sarah Harrison Year 10 student, Sarah Harrison is a talented Squash player, having recently won the Waikato under 15 Squash Champs and also being part of the School team that won the Thames Valley Championship. Sarah loves sport so it is no surprise that PE is one of her favourite subjects along with English and IT. Sarah hopes to make a career as a jockey and says she loves learning and the challenge of always doing her best.
Tessa Froger Congratulations to Year 11 student and 1st XI Hockey player Tessa Froger. Tessa spent part of her holiday break representing Waikato U16 Development Squad at Tournament in Palmerston North. Tessa has been in fine form for the 1st XI playing as inner but showed her versatility playing centre-half for Waikato. Tessa shows the same form and aptitude in her academic studies with excellent results across all her subjects. In particular Tessa likes Graphics, Japanese and Mathematics and is contemplating a career in Architecture.	Taylor Drummond Winner of the Stanley Group and Matamata Veterinary Services sponsored ACE (Achieving and Celebrating Excellence) Club laptop for Term 2 is Taylor Drummond of 9.2. Taylor is this week’s student of the week. Achieving eight excellence grades across a range of subjects Taylor is a very deserving winner. Taylor was drawn from the draw which included 12 Junior Students who between them amassed over 400 Excellence grades in assessments throughout the term. Taylor is doing well in all subjects and in particular likes Physical Education, Music and Japanese. He hopes to join the Territorials and would love a career in computer and video game design.	Jordan Berry Year 13 student Jordan Berry is this week’s Student of the Week. Jordan is an advocate for student welfare as one of the student Wellness Committee leaders. He also displays leadership in his role as Captain of the Shooting Team. Jordan has achieved some outstanding results having represented the school at the College Games and he helped the team to victory in the recent Tauranga Clay Target Club shoot with scores of 14/15 in the single rise, 10/10 for single barrel and a 74/75 points score. Jordan displays the same accuracy in the classroom finishing both NCEA Level 1 and 2 with Merit endorsement and is well on the way to achieving even better results in Level 3. It is no surprise that with his academic success and interest in hunting, fishing, farming, animals and everything outdoors that Jordan aspires to gain entry to Massey University next year to study for a Bachelor of Veterinary Science.	Travis Scott Year 13 student, Travis Scott, who has been selected as our Student of the Week, recently captained the Senior Debating Team when they won the Freemason’s Debate between Matamata, Putaruru, Cambride and Forest View. Travis holds the Runners-Up title of Matamata College Senior Boy’s Tennis Champ, and is a member of the College’s Boy’s 1st XI Soccer Team. Not only does Travis show his strengths in debating and sports, he excels at amazing levels academically gaining Excellences in all he does at Matamata College. Travis is our Head Boy, a duty he performs with much pride and diligence.
Kendra Martin The Nursing profession is set to gain a very caring and compassionate young woman to their ranks in Matamata College Year 13 student Kendra Martin. Kendra is the school’s Wellness Committee’s co-leader and displays all the characteristics that will make her an excellent Nurse. The wellness committee under her leadership has already raised over $1,200.00 towards Starship Hospital. Next year, Kendra plans to spread her wings and go the Hawkes Bay to begin Nurse training at E.I.T. in Napier. If you were lucky enough to catch the school production you would have seen Kendra in action as one of the leading female roles. In addition to her acting talent Kendra features in the Girls’ 1st XI Soccer team and passed both Level 1 & 2 NCEA with Merit endorsements, and is just a few credits away from passing Level 3 well before the externals in term 4.	Melissa Caird Melissa is a year 10 student at Matamata College. She is the goal keeper of the 1st XI Girls Hockey team who, on Wednesday 9th September, played in the final of the Waikato B Grade Championship winning the final in a penalty stroke shoot out. Melissa was outstanding in goal and her team attributed the win to her efforts in goal. Playing at the recent Kate Trolove Cup Hockey tournament in Pukekohe, Melissa was voted ‘Most Valuable Player’ by her team mates and received recognition for this from the Counties Manukau Hockey Association. Melissa is also a Waikato Under 16 Hockey Representative. Melissa enjoys all sport and also plays cricket. At school her favourite subject is Physical Education.	Kylie Gillingham Year 12 student Kylie Gillingham has recently enjoyed success with her love for designing when she was placed 3rd in the Annah Stretton, Waihou Competition in the senior Fantasy section and has gained a slot as a finalist in the YoungDesigners Awards 2009. Kylie won the Intermediate Cultural section of YDA in 2008. Her favourite subjects at Matamata College this year includes Japanese, Clothing, Geography and Music. Kylie is looking forward to going to Japan on an EF Exchange in March 2010 and hopes to attend Waikato University in Tauranga to study Fashion and Design or Japanese, or maybe both in the future.	Nicholas Stafford Year 13 student Nicholas Stafford has recently learned that he has won a prestigious Massey University High Achievers” Scholarship for Academic Excellence. Nicholas is naturally thrilled at this news and now has to decide between Massey and Waikato University as to where he studies for his BSC in Biology. Nicholas represents the college in Basketball and Tennis and has ambitions to join the Air Force as an Air Warfare Specialist. Good Luck for next year, Nicholas.
Tim Hampton Year 9 student Tim Hampton recently won a Gold Medal and the Environment Award at the Waikato Science Fair with his invention of a solar panel that is considerably cheaper than commercial ones. Tim is fascinated by technology and is a sound and lighting technician for the school and is a member of the School Computing Club. Tim enjoys all subjects, particularly Computing, Music and Wood & Metal Technology and has plans for a career in the IT or Electronic Industry	Beau Wills Beau Wills is an outstanding sportsman who was recently named Matamata College’s Sportsman of the Year and Best All Round Sportsman. Beau excels in a number of sports including Volleyball, Tennis, Basketball and Soccer. He was selected in the NZ Under 19 Volleyball team and he has won a scholarship to attend the John Newcombe Tennis Academy in Texas in January. Beau is also a successful academic student and is busy preparing for his NCEA Level 3 external exams.