Grace Roberts was “over the moon” to be named Nelson College for Girls Dux for 2023.
The 18-year-old, who plans to study financial engineering in the Garden City (Christchurch) next year, credited the accolade to her teachers, who always challenged her to excel in extensive subjects.
“I’ve loved having really supportive teachers who have pushed me and allowed me to do harder subjects,” she says.
“Extending me while still challenging my thinking, and just having a good time academically,” she says.
“I’ve always been quite academic, I love maths and science, [and being awarded Dux] just made all my work feel like I actually achieved something.”
Grace’s academic determination led her to achieve NCEA Level 3 with an excellence endorsement while still a Year 12 student.
She had already begun a University of Canterbury correspondence mathematics course this year alongside her school subjects, economics, chemistry and digital technology.
On top of achieving the Atmore Memorial Scholarship and Christie Award to the Dux of the College, Grace also received the George Rutherford Scholarship in Science, the Nelson College for Girls Award for Scholarship, Character and Contribution, and the University of Canterbury Te Kakau a Māui Scholarship.
The combined value of all scholarships is $36,700, and Grace could be in for a further financial boost depending on her NCEA scholarship exam results for calculus, chemistry, economics, physics and statistics, which she has sat in previous weeks.
Grace says she was also “over the moon” with her additional hoard to cover her study costs.
“They gave a little profile on stage, and they said I was hard-working, determined and willing to give everything a shot,” she says.
“I couldn’t believe I got the character contribution award because that was voted on by peers, we all wrote something about someone, and I honestly was shocked I was nominated for that.
“I would like to think I get on with everyone but it’s nice to know they like me.”
Grace says that she had also led the creative writing club at the college, and was able to “hit a ball and stab a person” competing in tennis and fencing.
Born and raised in Nelson, she’s loved its outdoor amenities and the “chilled and laid back” community, but now eagerly awaits university life and adding more data to her already impressive spreadsheet.
