HILLCREST High School top achiever Ethan Ainhirn was awarded the DUX Award, along with 11 subject awards and trophies at the school’s Senior Speech Night recently.

Ainhirn, who has been a consistent high achiever throughout his high school career, was awarded the subject prizes for Mathematics, Physical Sciences, English, Geography, Life Orientation, and Further Studies in Mathematics.

“We are incredibly proud of Ethan, who also took home the trophies for top marks in both the Chemistry and Physics components of Physical Sciences, the English Creative Writing and Literature awards, and the trophy for excellence in Mathematics and Science combined. He was also re-awarded Honours Cum Laude, surpassing the requirements of an aggregate of 85% or more, by achieving 90%,” said Hillcrest High School principal Denise Knight. “We wish him, and our Class of 2025, all the best in the National Senior Certificate Examinations. Remember our motto, Grade 12s – ‘If it is to be, it is up to me!”

The Runner-up or Proxime Accesit Dux, Hannah King, was the top achiever in Business Studies and Tourism, sharing the subject trophy for Engineering, Graphics and Design (EGD) with Julia Cameron and the EGD PAT (Practical Examination) trophy with Eryn Beech.

Also read: GALLERY: Learners showcase their talents in speech and drama

Micaella Hunter, who placed third in the grade, won the subject award for Life Sciences, shared the German Foreign Language trophy win with Vanessa van der Westhuizen and was awarded the Afrikaans trophy for a learner who shows a passion for the language. Both Hannah and Micaella were also re-awarded Honours Cum Laude.

Guest speaker at the event, Peter Herweg, applauded the Grade 12 Class of 2025 on reaching this point in their education, motivating them to dig deeper for the next several weeks and do their best in the National Senior Certificate examinations. He amused and motivated the audience with his anecdotes before being called on to hand out the prizes to the top achievers.

During his speech at the Grade 12 Valedictory Assembly, Ainhirn urged his fellow Grade 12s, the Class of 2025, to not only find meaning and purpose among the piles of books they faced for examination preparations, but to also “Find your one way to shine, be it in the art of language, the labyrinths of maths and science or the sheer human spirit that you cultivate on the sports field,” he said. “You don’t need to be the best at everything, just be the best at what makes you feel the most comfortable and try your hardest for the rest.”

In his closing he left the audience, which included Grade 12 parents and Grade 11 learners, with a compelling thought, saying, “The people closest to you are your greatest pillars of support or the most likely cause for your downfall. Manifest good relationships to last a lifetime but also to enrich yourself for a lifetime.”

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