Scholar Stories

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International Day of the Girl Child 2024 Spotlight – Jasmine, Class of 2025 Scholar

In honour of International Day of the Girl Child, we would like to spotlight Jasmine, an outstanding Class of 2025 scholar from Queensland. Jasmine was recently selected as a participant in the University of Queensland Young ChangeMakers Program, an on-campus experience program aimed at helping Year 11 students become the leaders, thinkers and innovators of the future. Jasmine hopes the program will help her foster friendships with both the people who share like-minded goals with her and those who have differing opinions, as she believes this is one of the key steps towards building her future. She also wants to develop her leadership and innovative thinking skills whilst experiencing a taste of university life. Jasmine is ecstatic that leadership opportunities are becoming increasingly available for women and she highly encourages others to take on these positions.

When asked about the biggest challenge she faced in pursuing her goals, Jasmine shared how she is an introvert who often shies away from putting herself out there. She tends to question whether she overestimates her capabilities or if she is qualified for a program, and this has become her major challenge in trying to get involved in more opportunities. However, through the recent programs and events she has participated in, she has realised that many people are in the same boat. She asserted, “We all tend to think negatively, but I can assure you that as soon as you turn those thoughts off, you realise that you can overcome many things.”

Reflecting on the International Day of the Girl Child 2024 theme ‘Girls’ vision for the future’, Jasmine shared her aspirations and hopes for the future. She envisions a future where everyone has equal opportunities without the limitation of societal norms. Jasmine finds women are often the minority of STEM-related professions, which is her area of interest, because there tends to be a lack of encouragement for women participation shaped by centuries of negative opinions on the capabilities of women. However, Jasmine believes that society has the ability to continue progressing towards a more equal representation of both men and women. As someone who recognises the potential of taking every opportunity, she hopes to realise this vision by encouraging others to take a step out of their comfort zone because everyone’s voice has a significant impact. She advises everyone to take on every opportunity that comes their way and utilise it to develop their skills. “Stay true to your beliefs and act on them. Every little step you take brings you closer to contributing to positive changes and your aspirations.”

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HMEF Scholars received the Minister’s Award for Excellence

On 5 August 2024, two Harding Miller scholars were recognised for their hard work and dedication through the Minister’s Award for Excellence in Student Achievement. The Public Education Foundation continued its tradition of celebrating outstanding achievements in NSW public education by hosting the awards ceremony on behalf of the Deputy Premier and Minister for Education and Early Learning the Hon Prue Car MP, and the Secretary of the NSW Department of Education, Mr Murat Dizdar PSM. The two Harding Miller scholars, Britney Nguyen from Prairiewood High School and Kobi Weiss from Inverell High School, were among the 36 students who received the Excellence in Student Achievement award at the ceremony held last week at Sydney Town Hall, coinciding with NSW Education Week. This award recognises outstanding Year 12 students who have excelled in their secondary years across academic excellence, sports, cultural, community and leadership.  

We are incredibly proud to see our scholars continue to shine on such a significant platform. Their accomplishments inspire us all and reinforce our commitment to supporting students throughout their educational journey. As we celebrate these achievements, we look forward to witnessing even more of our scholars receive such honours in the years to come. Congratulations Britney and Kobi!

Find their full citations from the awards below. 

Britney Nguyen – Prairiewood High School 

Britney Nguyen is a highly intelligent, mature, and exceptionally gifted young person with an insatiable thirst for learning, academic engagement and community service. Her propensity to be annually ranked #1 of her cohort is a testament, not only to her ability to undertake complex and challenging academic studies, but also, to her exceptional organisational, communication and co-operative skillset, honed through long-term engagement in leadership (school and community). With a predicted top state HSC ranking, being Vice-Captain of Prefects 2024, and selflessly serving community, Britney demonstrates that she is most worthy of a Minister’s Award for Excellence in Student Achievement.

Kobi Weiss – Inverell High School 

Kobi Weiss displays exceptional dedication to all her HSC subjects and is a role model for all students. She was selected by her peers to be a member of the school’s Student Representative Council (SRC) leadership team as School Captain and has been instrumental in organising school events which assist students, staff, and the community. Kobi actively involves herself in all student driven activities from peer support to sporting events and the SRC. She is a most polite and articulate young woman who is committed to high standards in all endeavours. Well done Kobi!

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2023 HSC & VCE High Achieving Scholars

The Harding Miller Education Foundation extends heartfelt congratulations to the entire Class of 2023 Harding Miller scholars for their outstanding results this year. We commend their hard work and resilience demonstrated throughout the year.

Special recognition goes to the scholars acknowledged on the 2023 New South Wales HSC honour list. Out of 55 Harding Miller scholars who sat their HSC this year, 20 scholars, accounting for 36%, have been named Distinguished Achievers. Distinguished Achievers are awarded to students who achieved results in the highest band for one or more courses. Our warmest congratulations go out to these scholars who earned a place on the 2023 list:

In addition, Janice Nguyen has also been recognised as a Top Achiever for achieving one of the highest places in a course in the state and also achieved a result in the highest band. Congratulations to Janice for ranking third in the state in Business Studies.

We also want to take this moment to recognize the two Victorian scholars who have earned a place on the 2023 VCE Honour Roll. These two individuals are among the seven Harding Miller scholars in Victoria who completed their VCE this year. Students on the VCE Honour Roll are those who received a score of 40 or above and are in the top 9 per cent of a subject’s cohort. We congratulate Evalyn and Kelly for their remarkable results.

This accomplishment not only underscores the scholars’ commitment but also reflects the invaluable support and guidance provided by their families/carers, teachers, coaches, and public high schools during their academic journey. As these scholars transition into the next phase of their academic pursuits, we extend our best wishes. The foundation is honoured to have contributed to their educational journey and eagerly anticipates witnessing their ongoing success and contributions to society.

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HMEF Scholar receives the 2024 Queensland Premier’s Anzac Prize

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HMEF Scholars awarded at the 2023 NSW Minister’s and Secretary’s Awards for Excellence

The Harding Miller Education Foundation has proudly celebrated the achievement of three outstanding Year 12 scholarship recipients. The HMEF scholars, Khawlah Albaf, C-K Crosbie, and Kiara Risnes, each received the prestigious Minister’s Award for Excellence in Student Achievement. The award ceremony celebrated the 2023 NSW Minister’s and Secretary’s Awards for Excellence which was held at the Sydney Town Hall on Tuesday, 5 September 2023.

The Award ceremony was hosted by the NSW Public Education Foundation on behalf of the Deputy Premier and Minister for Education and Early Learning the Hon Prue Car MP, and the Secretary of the NSW Department of Education, Mr Murat Dizdar PSM. The awards are held each year and acknowledge the outstanding achievements of schools, students, teachers, employees, and parents in the NSW public education sector. The Excellence in Student Achievement award received by the three Harding Miller scholars recognises outstanding Year 12 students who have excelled in their secondary years across academic excellence, sports, cultural, community and leadership. There are approximately 67,000 students in Year 12 in NSW this year and only 40 students across New South Wales received one of these awards. For three HMEF scholars to receive one of these prestigious awards is a fantastic achievement and is a testament to the success of the HMEF scholarship program in providing high potential girls an opportunity to reach their goals and be successful. Congratulations to Khawlah, C-K and Kiara!

Khawlah Albaf – Young High School

Khawlah Albaf displays an outstanding degree of character and values, which she consistently demonstrates through her daily actions, serving as an inspirational role model. Her exceptional leadership and teamwork skills are exemplified by her ability to collaborate within a team, while consistently attaining remarkable levels of success academically and as a school leader. Khawlah’s active involvement in state and federal youth leadership teams shows her dedication and commitment to making a positive impact in her community.

C-K Crosbie – St Johns Park High School

C-K Crosbie is an inspiring young woman who is motivated to succeed. She has demonstrated a love of learning and a commitment to achieve, both personally and academically. C-K is well respected and displays resilience, empathy and honesty. She has maintained an extremely high academic standard throughout her high school years and strives to achieve her goals. Held in high esteem by both her peers and teachers, she has fulfilled her role as School Captain with dignity. C-K possesses all the qualities of an exemplary student who is recognised for her motivation to overcome barriers and attain academic excellence.

Kiara Risnes – Leumeah High School

Kiara Risnes is an exceptional student who, in spite of her blindness, has always demonstrated positive engagement, an incredible work ethic, commitment and dedication to her academic pursuits. Kiara consistently achieves academic results at the top of her cohort and is excelling in Music 2. She aspires to attend university and pursue a career in music. She is recognised by her peers and teachers as an outstanding role model in our school and the broader community. Kiara is an exemplary representation of Leumeah High School and the values of public education. She is a most worthy recipient of the Minister’s Award for Excellence in Student Achievement.

We are proud of our three scholars’ achievements and we wish them all the best in what lies ahead.

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2022 HSC – Distinguished Achievers

The Harding Miller Education Foundation would like to congratulate all our Class of 2022 scholars on their wonderful achievements in the HSC last year. We are very proud of the hard work and perseverance they have demonstrated throughout the year.

We would like to take this opportunity to acknowledge the 18 scholars who have been awarded as Distinguished Achievers. Distinguished Achievers are those who achieved a result in the highest band (Band 6 or Band E4) for one or more courses. Warmest congratulations to the following scholars who were honoured on the 2022 list:

We appreciate the endless support and guidance provided by the scholars’ families/carers, teachers, coaches and public high schools throughout their academic journey. We wish our scholars the best as they embark on their next journey.

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2022 HSC – All-round and Top Achievers

The Harding Miller Education Foundation would like to congratulate all our Class of 2022 scholars on their wonderful achievements in the HSC last year. We are very proud of the hard work and perseverance they have demonstrated throughout the year.

We would like to take this opportunity to acknowledge the two scholars who have been recognised as All-round Achievers. All-round Achievers are those who attained 90 or above (Band 6 or Band E4) in at least ten units of study. Warmest congratulations to the following scholars who were honoured on the 2022 list:

• Emily Ly – Hurlstone Agricultural High School, NSW
• Jessica Nguyen – Prairiewood High School, NSW

Emily and Jessica are among 1,413 NSW students who were recognised on the All-round Achievers list of HSC results last year.

In addition, Jessica has also been recognised as a Top Achiever in two subjects. Top Achievers are those who achieved one of the highest places in an HSC course or VET examination and also achieved a result in the highest band (Band 6 or Band E4). We congratulate Jessica for ranking fourth in Visual Arts and fifth in Japanese Extension in NSW.

We appreciate the endless support and guidance provided by the scholars’ families/carers, teachers, coaches and public high schools throughout their academic journey. We wish our scholars the best as they embark on their next journey.

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2021 HSC – DISTINGUISHED ACHIEVERS

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2021 HSC – TOP ACHIEVERS 2021

The Harding Miller Education Foundation is very proud of the excellent results achieved by its HSC class of 2021. We would like to take this opportunity to congratulate all our scholars on their achievements. The past two years has been particularly difficult on a number of levels and our scholars worked very hard to rise above the plethora of challenges that faced them.

We would like to acknowledge the two scholars who have been recognised as Top Achievers. Top Achievers are those who achieved one of the highest places in an HSC course or VET examination and also achieved a result in the highest band (Band 6 or Band E4). We congratulate the following scholars who were honoured on the 2021 list:

• Angela Le Ranked 17^th in NSW for English Advanced – Prairiewood High School
• Hibba Chaudhry Ranked 6^th in NSW in Investigating Science – Bankstown Girls High School

The class of 2021 are a credit to their families/carers, dedicated teachers and the many public high schools that have guided them through their educational journeys.

By[email protected]

2021 HSC – ALL ROUND ACHIEVERS

The Harding Miller Education Foundation is very proud of the excellent results achieved by its HSC class of 2021. We would like to take this opportunity to congratulate all our scholars on their achievements. The past two years has been particularly difficult on a number of levels and our scholars worked very hard to rise above the plethora of challenges that faced them.

We would like to acknowledge the two scholars who have been recognised as All Round Achievers. All Round Achievers are those who attained 90 or above (Band 6 or Band E4) in at least ten units of study. We congratulate the following scholars who were honoured on the 2021 list:

• Angela Le – Prairiewood High School
• Nhi Lu – Prairiewood High School

Angela and Nhi are among 1,476 NSW students who were recognised on the All Round Achievers list of HSC results this year.
The class of 2021 are a credit to their families/carers, dedicated teachers and the many public high schools that have guided them through their educational journeys.