STUDENT ACHIEVEMENT

ELSIE JENKINS

Congratulations to Elsie Jenkins, who will perform in Top Class Dance, part of the VCE Season of Excellence. 

From hundreds of high school dance students across Victoria, only 121 were asked to audition for this year’s Top Class Dance. Of those, a mere 35 students will perform in two concerts at the Melbourne Recital Centre on Monday 2 March. 

Brava! Elsie's exceptional achievement highlights the high calibre of talent our performing artists possess. Join us in giving her a round of applause!

ELIZABETH LARSEN

Early in Term 1, Mercy Education announced the recipients of the 2025 Shining Lamp Awards, which celebrate students who live out Mercy values in their everyday lives. 

One student at each Mercy school receives this prestigious award. We are proud to announce that College Vice-Captain Elizabeth Larsen has received this year’s award at St Joseph’s College. 

Last year, Elizabeth devoted a great deal of time and effort to the Mercy Action Group. She also serves the college community by supporting younger classmates and consistently demonstrates the Core Values of Compassion, Service, and Hospitality. Congratulations!

Learn more about this year’s honourees and read the full publication here.

DILPREET GREWAL

Congratulations to Year 11 student Dilpreet Grewal, who joined the Mildura Rural City Council’s Youth Council this year. She and her fellow 2026 Youth Councillors were sworn in during an inauguration ceremony at Council Chambers.

Dilpreet is the only St Joseph’s College student on this year’s Youth Council. To win selection, all applicants needed to satisfy the application process’ rigorous criteria. That Dilpreet succeeded clearly demonstrates her strong commitment to serve our community, improve engagement, and create opportunities for young people in Mildura. Well done!

YOUNG MERCY LINKS

Faith Captain Nathasha Allieu and Mercy Action Captain Melanie Thanomjit spent two days at the Mercy Hub in Melbourne to attend the ‘Leading in Mercy’ formation program by Young Mercy Links.

Chaperoned by Director of Faith & Mission Rebecca Garreffa, they left Mildura on Tuesday 17 February so that they would be ready for a 9.30am start the next day. Along with students from other Victorian Mercy schools, Nathasha and Melanie learned more about how the Mercy ethos inspires action and drives change. They also visited one of our fellow Mercy schools, the Academy of Mary Immaculate, in Fitzroy.

Young Mercy Links is open to young people aged 18 to 30 who hold the spirit of Mercy in their hearts and are passionate about social and environmental justice, advocacy and education, and celebrating community connectedness through volunteer service. This program in particular helps to keep our college connected to Mercy's traditions and ethos following the departure of the Sisters from Mildura.

MERCEDES LEAL-KAISER

A keen athlete, both in the pool and on the tennis court, Year 9 student Mercedes Leal-Kaiser again worked as one of the Ball Kids at the Australian Open. For three weeks, she worked shifts on the courts at Melbourne Park during the day and night, braving heat and rain. She met several professional tennis players and a couple of the tournament's celebrity guests.

‘STEM-SATIONAL’ FORMULA 1

Next week, a group of 30 College students in Years 8 to 11 will travel to Melbourne to participate in the Formula 1 Australian Grand Prix Driving Learning Program. They will depart Mildura on Wednesday 4 March and return on Friday 6 March.

In the lead-up to this event, all students worked in year-level groups to prepare projects for the F1 STEM Challenge, run by STEM Hub.

Two of our groups impressed the judging panel with their ‘innovation, technical depth, clarity of thinking, and strong presentation skills’. As finalists, they will deliver live presentations on Thursday 5 March to the judges.

A round of applause for:

Turbo Titans (Year 9 Boys Team) – Rydah Collins, Thomas Simonetta, Riley Eichler and Mali Holmes delivered a project focused on a Regenerative Pit Lane Energy Floor.

Aero We There Yet (Year 9 Girls Team) – Esther Kellet and Lacey Gordon-Krake presented a project focused on a Low-drag Aero Charge Wing.

Congratulations to these young scientists and engineers on this exceptional achievement. Though there is still work to be done, they should be very proud of themselves. Please with them all luck next week!

LET US KNOW

We want to celebrate all our students' achievements, both on- and off-campus. You can share their successes with us by sending details and photos via email or direct message on Instagram. 

Ts & Cs: Please note that any photos, videos, and information you send to us may appear on Instagram, in the College's newsletters, and on the Principal's Blog.