Dainfern College

The High School Academic Prize-giving is traditionally the last event on the High School calendar and celebrates the academic achievements of students from Grade 8 to Grade 11. This year it took place on Thursday 1 December and Mr James Forson was the guest speaker - his last official function as the out-going Chairman of the Board of Governors of Dainfern College.

Academic certificates, awards, half-colours, full colours and academic honours were awarded to students and the Dux Scholars in each grade were announced. The 2011 Dux Scholars were:

• Grade 8 - Benjamin Parker
• Grade 9 - Gina Calaz
• Grade 10 - Christopher van der Meulen and Emiel Zyde
• Grade 11 - Sunuri Subramoney.

Jonathan Bouwer received the Sigma Trophy for the Most Outstanding Mathematician and Garth Skinner received the Geography Trophy for Mapwork. The Trophy to the Winning House was awarded to Griffin. The Principal's Award this year went to Graeme Page and Sean Giddy for their tireless service in sound and lighting: together they have accumulated over 800 hours of service - an awesome achievement.

The evening also saw the award of two Red Honours Blazers to Garth Skinner and Christopher van der Meulen. These are the citations for these prestigious awards:

Garth Skinner:

We are delighted to be able to recognise a student who has been determined to achieve to the best of his ability throughout his high school career.

Throughout High School he has demonstrated a committed diligence and dedication to academic achievement and tonight he was awarded Full Academic Colours in recognition of his consistent excellence in academics.

He has set the highest standards in Public Speaking and this year his proficiency in Public Speaking earned him a Full Colours award.

He has consistently demonstrated his commitment to Dainfern College sport throughout his High School career and his excellent skill, calm proficiency and sportsmanship as a top College swimmer earned him Full Colours for Swimming this year.

The enthusiasm with which he approaches life and his willingness to be of service to the College in all areas make him a fine example of the values we strive to uphold at our school.

We congratulate Garth Skinner on his exceptional achievements and ask him to come forward and receive his Red Blazer.

Christopher van der Meulen:

We are delighted to be able to recognise a student who has been determined to achieve to the best of his ability throughout his high school career.

Throughout High School he has demonstrated a committed diligence and dedication to academic achievement and tonight he was awarded Full Academic Colours in recognition of his consistent excellence in academics.

He has set the highest standards in Public Speaking and this year his proficiency in Public Speaking earned him a Full Colours award.

He has also consistently demonstrated his commitment to Dainfern College sport throughout his high school career and has been awarded a team award for Athletics. But it is his excellent skill and achievement in the extracurricular activity of Fly Fishing that has earned him under-18 Provincial Colours in 2009 and 2010 and thus a College white scroll.

The enthusiasm with which he approaches life and his willingness to be of service to the College in all areas make him a fine example of the values we strive to uphold at our school.

We congratulate Christopher van der Meulen on his exceptional achievements and ask him to come forward and receive his Red Blazer.