By LIBBY MIDDLEBROOK
Michael Oehley plays tennis, sings, has a national award for debating and trims hedges for pocket-money in summer.
He is also one of the brightest boys in the country.
The 18-year-old was named yesterday as the top all-round male scholar in the 2001 University Entrance, Bursary and Scholarship exams.
Abbi Fox, a 17-year-old graduate of King's College in Otahuhu, was top all-round female scholar, scoring a lowest mark of 91 per cent in her five Bursary exams last November.
Michael, who graduated from St Paul's Collegiate in Hamilton last year, says he had no idea he was going to win the country's top academic award for school-leavers, despite scoring perfect marks in Bursary history and geography.
"I kind of laughed out loud when I found out because that sort of thing is a real surprise - it's a once-in-a-lifetime thing."
Until now there have been no academics in Michael's family, although they all have "built-in" work ethics cultivated in their home country, South Africa.
The Oehleys moved to New Zealand about eight years ago so Michael and his three younger siblings could gain a good education.
Michael, who will start studying medicine at the University of Auckland on Monday, was chapel prefect last year and played the lead role in a musical production, as well as studying a few hours each day for exams.
The New Zealand Qualifications Authority has awarded him $8000 in prize-money for his marks, which included 94 per cent for biology, 92 per cent in chemistry and 89 per cent for maths with calculus.
Abbi was about to drive her grandmother to a doctor's appointment last week when the mailman arrived with a small envelope.
The letter from the authority said she had gained the highest marks for a female student in the Bursary exams, involving more than 26,000 students each year.
"I was just overwhelmed, but I didn't squeal. I just thought they might have made a mistake."
The 17-year-old, who is studying for a Bachelor in Science in biomedical science, gained a perfect mark in English, 92 per cent in chemistry, 91 per cent in French, 92 per cent in maths with calculus and 94 per cent in physics.
Abbi says sheer determination and healthy competition between students at King's College motivated her to work hard throughout last year.
She spent the two-week term break in September tucked away in the college library, poring over books and dreaming of winning the dux award.
"I first topped a class when I was at primary school so I think that got me into a really good work ethic quite young."
Abbi was named dux - only the second time a female student has won the award in 21 years without sharing it with a male student.
After finishing her degree, she plans to head overseas, where there are better opportunities for biomedical research and study.
Abbi says she wants to relax more this year and enjoy a better social life.
Both students will put their prize-money towards course costs.
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