Success at Stratford High

Dux: Simon Pitman
Simon was genuinely surprised to receive the honour of being the Stratford High School Dux for 2008.
As well as scooping up the Rodgers Trophy for Senior Mathematics and the HC Johnson Memorial Challenge Trophy for Senior Mathematics and Science, Simon took first place awards for both mathematics with calculus and mathematics with statistics and modelling, second place awards for both geography and accounting, and a diligence award for physics.
When not focussing on his academic work, Simon plays hockey and volleyball and is planning to start a four-year double degree course at Massey University next year, working towards both a Bachelor of Business Studies (BBS) and a Bachelor of Science (BSc).
At this stage, he's not sure what career direction he's heading in, but he's looking forward to next year's studies.
Proxime Accesit: Rae West
"I was surprised and shocked to receive it," said Rae West, the school's 2008 proxime accessit, "it hasn't really sunken in yet."
Taking not only the Sextus Family Trophy for Proxime Accesit, Rae also was awarded the AHR Amess Cup for Year 13 English as well as the Carmichael Cup for Senior Creative Writing.She also received first place in biology, second in physics and third in history. She also received an award for being a finalist in the senior public speaking competition.
Complementing her focus on academic subjects, Rae plays basketball, netball, soccer and is involved with debating and public speaking in the school.
She is heading off to study for a Bachelor of Science, majoring in geology and hopes to one day return to Taranaki and work in the oil and mining industries.
Rae has also been a past recipient of the Stratford Press Young Achiever Award.
Best All-Rounder: Mikaela Old
Having made an enormous contribution to extra-curricula activities within the school, Mikaela took the Roodbeen Family Trophy for Best All-Rounder.
Through her senior year, Mikaela was involved in the school's peer support and peer reading programmes, as well as being in netball, basketball, cricket, indoor soccer and debating teams.
She was also on the school's stage challenge, ball and lounge committees and was chairperson for the school's Student Council.
Academically, she was awarded with the Ranjer Memorial Cup for Short Stories, a first in history, a second in physical education, third for both English and mathematics with statistics and modelling, a distinction award for classical studies and an award for being a finalist in the senior public speaking competition.
Next year, Mikaela is heading to Massey University to begin work on a Bachelor of Communications, and she's hoping to have a career in journalism.