Ten Marlborough teenagers have proved they among the best and brightest in the country by winning scholarships.
Students from Marlborough Girls' College received eight scholarships, a Marlborough Boys' College student received two and a Queen Charlotte College student received one.
College principals say they are pleased with the results, but have set their sights even higher for the new academic year.
Marlborough Girls' deputy principal Jude Young said she was thrilled for the eight who did well.
Forty students had signed up for scholarship exams last year, although not all ended up sitting them, which was normal, she said.
Students from the college gained four scholarships in 2009, and it was aiming to lift the number of scholarship successes to double figures in the 2011 academic year.
Boys' college principal Wayne Hegarty said he was pleased for Thomas Flaherty, who had lifted the school's scholarship tally from the one achieved in 2009.
However, he would have liked to have seen more boys gain scholarships.
He would talk at an assembly on Friday to motivate students and raise expectations, as part of his goal of seeing students achieve five scholarship passes this year, he said.
Queen Charlotte College principal Tom Parsons was delighted Nicole Macdonald, 18, had received a scholarship for art design.
Nicole, who is studying visual communication and design at Massey University in Wellington this year, had a "good future ahead" and it was "lovely to see her recognised nationally", he said.
Students who gain scholarships get money toward their tertiary study ranging from a one-off payment of $500 for a single subject scholarship to $30,000 over three years for top scholars.
Ninety-eight per cent of the college students who passed NCEA level 2 last year were studying for level 3 and it made sense the school would push for better marks, he said.
"Where do you go after 98 per cent at level 2? It's a logical extension that we have a close look at scholarships for this year," he said.
However, many students planned to get a good job rather than go to university, he said.
"University degrees are not seen in the community as the epitome of success – a good steady job is."
CONGRATULATIONS
Scholarship winners
Marlborough Girls' College: Seung Kim (biology), Brianna Dean (classical studies), Rebekah Simpson (classical studies), Coral Denize (English), Luisa Leo Tupuana'i (English), Rebecca Johns (history), Lily Harvey (media studies), Natalie Kirk (photography)
Marlborough Boys' College: Thomas Flaherty (two scholarships, one in photography and one in graphics and design)
Queen Charlotte College: Nicole Macdonald (art design)
- The Marlborough Express
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