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Source: Photos.com
Future earthquake scientists and drama doyens are among the capital's top scholars, with Wellington region pupils gaining thousands of dollars in elite scholarships.
The Qualifications Authority released scholarship results yesterday, with pupils from Wellington High School, Samuel Marsden Collegiate, Wellington College, Wellington Girls' College, Scots College and Wellington East Girls' College all represented in the top tier of awards.
Hamish Hirshberg, from Otaki, was one of only four pupils nationwide who achieved outstanding marks in all five subjects - netting a premier award and $30,000 towards his study for the next three years.
The Rathkeale College pupil, 17, gained excellent marks in chemistry, geography, mathematics with calculus, physics, statistics and modelling.
He will use his skills to study for a bachelor of science in physics and geophysics at Victoria University this year.
"It was a bit of a shock - my first response was `woah'," he said yesterday. "I thought I'd done well, but I didn't think I'd done that well."
Principal William Kersten described Hamish as a "dedicated, motivated and focused" pupil. "There's nothing overt about this young man, he just gets on with it."
A total of 2302 pupils achieved scholarships, from the 10,276 students who took the New Zealand Scholarship exams in 2011.
Several Wellington pupils gained outstanding scholar awards and top subject scholar awards.
Wellington High School drama pupil Felix Borthwick gained an outstanding scholarship in drama and art history, along with a scholarship in English.
Felix said his drama exam had been terrifying, so he was happy with his results.
"I guess `proud' is the single adjective I could break it down to."
He was unsure if he would be able to claim his $15,000 scholarship, however, because he was planning to study international relations at Sydney University and Qualifications Authority rules stipulate the money must be spent at a New Zealand university.
"I always knew I was doing it for recognition rather than money ... I think it might bother my parents more."
