THE nervous wait for Wimmera students was over on Thursday morning when the 2019 Australian Tertiary Admission Rank scores were released at 7am.
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This year, 49,324 students will graduate with their Victorian Certificate of Education which is a record completion rate of 98.1 per cent. A record number of students 13,942, completed their Victorian Certificate of Applied Learning.
Students getting results today may go to university, TAFE, start an apprenticeship or traineeship, begin employment or take some time off for a gap year.
Students have until 4pm on December 14 to change their university and TAFE preferences.
Wimmera students celebrated
HORSHAM'S St Brigid's College dux is Hannah Bone who received an ATAR of 96.15.
Hannah studied further maths, biology, English, chemistry and psychology in year 12.
"I honestly wasn't expecting it at all; I was hoping for the 90s, but didn't think I'd get 96," she said.
"My year level worked so hard and was really quite relaxed through the year. My friend Sophie Fechner and I got really similar results and I'm really proud of her.
"Next year I plan to have a gap year to do a bit of travelling and work. I'm hoping to work for a bit in the UK."
She said she hoped to study physiotherapy at Latrobe University in Bundoora after her gap year.
"I'm hoping I'll get in, but there are a lot of other pathways I can take to get there," she said.
Horsham's Holy Trinity Lutheran College dux Josiah Mock received an ATAR of 85.65.
"I'm glad it's all over to be honest. That score will just be enough to get into the course I want to do (double degree in commerce and science at Monash University's Clayton campus)," he said.
This was the first time the college had a year 12 cohort.
"We're in a very unique position of being the first. Everyone seems quite happy with what they got and I'm sure they will find a way to do what they love," he said.
"I'd say to students going into year 12 next year to keep doing the extra-curricular activities outside of school. That really helped me get through the year."
Horsham College dux is Mya Jones who received an ATAR of 97.55, while Murtoa College's dux Teneille Nitschke received an ATAR of 91.95.
Edenhope College's dux is Ariana Smith-Ralph. Warracknabeal Secondary College's dux is Sandon Schultz who received at ATAR of 78.65.
Dimboola Memorial Secondary College's dux Daniel Polack received an ATAR of 89.6.
Donald High School's dux is Harry Cashin who received an ATAR of 93.95.
Donald High School acting principal Tony Cashin said the school was "very proud" of Harry and happy with the results of the other students.
"It really is the result of all (Harry's) hard work. At the end of the day it's about achieving what you want," he said.
Harry said he had been eager to learn the results and was "stoked" with the news.
"I had a target of getting over 90, but I just tried to do my best," he said.
He said he hopes to enrol in physiotherapy or exercise science at Deakin University in Geelong.
"I really liked studying physical education and learning about human movement," he said.
Harry thanked all the teachers for their support in keeping him motivated.
Goroke P-12 College's dux is Holly Smith.
Birchip P-12 School's dux is Caitlin Bidstrup who received an ATAR of 92.35. She said she plans to study medical imaging at Deakin University in Geelong.
Birchip P-12 School principal said in a statement that all VCE students "satisfactorily" completed their courses.
"The Birchip P-12 School community congratulates all students on their successes," the statement said.
Ararat College announced that its dux is Toneya Hurst, but she has chosen not to release her score.
Over at Marian College, also in Ararat, Rachel McCready is dux with an ATAR of 92.05, while the school's teachers also congratulated year 11 student Bridget McGuckian for two perfect scores of 50 in physical education and biology.
More to come.
What is ATAR?
THE Australian Tertiary Admission Rank, or ATAR, is calculated by VTAC solely for the use of tertiary institutions to compare the overall achievement of students who have completed different combinations of VCE studies. The ATAR is used in all Australian states except Queensland.
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