Six Hit 90s For Uni
Illawarra Mercury
Tuesday January 5, 1999
The Illawarra Grammar School has achieved unprecedented HSC success with 15 per cent of its candidates scoring more than 90 in the 1998 exams.
Three students - Ainslie Baird, Simon Spiers and Andrew Carter - scored university admission indexes (UAIs) of more than 99, with another three in the low to mid-90s.
TIGS senior school principal John Weeks said the result was the school's best, with more students achieving higher marks.
``We had about the same amount of students score in the 90s last year but this year we have more in the high 90s than ever before," Mr Weeks said.
``The school only has a small number of HSC students, with 38 sitting the exams last year."
Among the big achievers were equal dux Ainslie Baird and Simon Spiers, who each scored UAIs of 99.60.
Ainslie, who finished in the top percentile band for seven of her eight subjects, was told of her mark while holidaying in New York with friend Shannon Gleeson, who also achieved the high 90s.
Fellow dux Simon Spiers scored 98/100 in 4-unit maths and Shannon finished in the top 10 per cent in NSW in five of her subjects, despite suffering a virus during three of her exams.
The school's top scorers yesterday met to compare marks and career paths but all agreed the choice would not be easy.
``The mark is only a means to university," said Simon Spiers, who hopes to eventually study medicine. ``It's not over when you get the mark, it's only the beginning because now we have to make a decision on our futures."
School captain Stephanie Brown said the support among the small group almost ensured its success. ``We're pretty close and supportive but we were all fairly motivated and organised as well," she said.
The school's honour roll reads: Ainslie Baird (99.60), Simon Spiers (99.60), Andrew Carter (99.45), Shannon Gleeson (96.65), Stephanie Brown (93.30), Rowan Galagher (91.70), Mark Freeman (88.90).
© 1999 Illawarra Mercury
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