Student Achievements
State Honours for Huntingtower Speaker
We congratulate Elle D. (Year 12), who was named runner-up in the State Final of the VCAA Plain English Speaking Award, held at the Wheeler Centre at the State Library on Friday 31 July.
One of Australia’s largest and most prestigious public speaking competitions, the award is open to schools across Victoria, with each school able to nominate one student. Elle was among just six students to reach the State Final and is the first Huntingtower student to progress to this level.
Elle delivered a confident and thought-provoking prepared speech exploring the harm experienced by people tasked with cataloguing content used to train artificial intelligence. She followed this with a passionate impromptu speech responding to the topic, “Intelligence is not enough.”
Representing Victoria at the Voice of Youth National Final
Congratulations to Varun S (Year 11). After winning the Rostrum Voice of Youth State Final, he went on to represent Victoria at the National Final of the Voice of Youth Competition, which was recently held in Sydney.
From 24–26 July, I had the privilege of representing Victoria at the Rostrum Voice of Youth National Finals in Sydney, bringing together the top four Senior and Junior speakers from across Australia.
Competing in the National Finals was an incredible opportunity to meet like-minded young speakers and gain valuable insight from an exceptional standard of public speaking. Each Senior speaker delivered a prepared persuasive speech before taking on the challenge of short-notice speaking.
My speech explored youth crime and bail laws, considering how Australia can balance long-term community safety with accountability, and what the right path forward should look like.
Rostrum did an exceptional job organising the event, with the competition held at the Independent Theatre. Beyond the competition, we had the opportunity to explore Sydney, including jet boating beneath the Harbour Bridge, as well as attending a lunch reception at NSW Parliament House. There, I had the opportunity to meet and speak with the President of the NSW Legislative Council, the Hon. Ben Franklin, a former Rostrum Voice of Youth winner, about public speaking and issues surrounding youth bail laws.
I’m incredibly grateful to have represented Victoria and to have come away with valuable experiences, new connections and memories that I’ll carry forward.
- Varun S., Year 11
Colours in Production
Congratulations to the following Year 11 students who have recently achieved their Colours in Production.
Listed alphabetically: Kaushan A., Jamie C., Samy H., Lily H., Kevan J., Thomas L., Gordon L., Shiven R., Kishaya S., Dylan S., Nyah T., Malcolm W., Peter X.
Honours in Production
Congratulations to the following Year 12 students who have recently achieved their Honours in Production.
Listed alphabetically: Akira A., Zian A., Kitty B., Tara G., Savreen G., Hugo G., Matthew L., Scarlett L., Nathan M., Ruby R., Ashton S., Tonia T.
Other Awards
Australian Economics Olympiad (AEO)
The AEO is a series of fun and challenging activities and tests designed to test students' mastery of economics. Congratulations to the following Year 12 students for their success.
L to R: Pranav M., Ayush S., Lin W.
Australian Geography Competition
- Year 7 High Distinction
Listed alphabetically: Advay A., Phil L., Stephanie L., Eason Q., Niall S., Collin T., Makaela T., Andrew T., Maxwell V., Gabby W., Chloe X., Varish Z.
- Year 8 High Distinction
Listed alphabetically: Evan A., Brayden C., Etaash D., Aaron F., Kylie G., Aiden H., Angela H., Shawn H., Sherhan K., Mabel L., Ryan L., Tenuli M., Felix N., Hayden P., Anvita R., Rehan S., Derek Y.
- Year 9 High Distinction
Jaden C., Victor V., Sam N., Lachlan C. (not pictured)
Top 1% in Year Level
Ethan L. (Year 7)
Jayden C. (Year 8)