2024 College Dux

We proudly announce that Tully Smith was presented with the 2024 College Dux award during our Opening Mass on Friday, 14 February. Tully received this award in recognition of her outstanding academic performance, which resulted in her receiving the highest overall ATAR result for the College in 2024, an outstanding 98.4.

During the presentation, Tully was congratulated by the entire College community, including her family, staff, students and special guests. Mr David Anthony attended to present Tully with her award and a $500 bursary in recognition of her achievement.  

We thank Mr Anthony for his ongoing support of the College and our students. Mr Anthony was involved in the steering committee for the College before its inception and served for several years as the inaugural chair of the College Board.

In response to receiving the 2024 College Dux, Tully said:

 My teachers and parents were my biggest supporters throughout my education – I couldn’t have done it without them! To the SSCC Staff, I hope you share in my success as much as I do, because I couldn’t have done it without any of you! Special mention to Ms Kleyn, Mrs Somerton and Ms Smith, you all made my high school experience even more enjoyable and memorable.

In 2024, Tully received numerous other notable awards, including the Principal’s Medal for Academic Achievement, the Subject Award for Chemistry, the Subject Award for Physics, and an Academic Excellence Award. She also received some outstanding results with As in all of her subjects and near-perfect marks with 95 out of a possible 100 marks in Chemistry and 97 out of 100 in Biology.

On the external exam for Biology, Tully achieved 48 out of 50, and for Maths Methods, she achieved 47 out of 50. She also achieved 100%, or close to 100%, in many of her internal assessments across Units 3 and 4.

Tully will start a dual degree at James Cook University this year: a Bachelor of Medicine and a Bachelor of Surgery. 

We caught up with Tully after she received her award, and she generously shared some more information on her plans for the future and the secrets to her success!

Tully, now that you have finished Year 12, what are your plans for the future?

I am currently a First Year Medical Student at James Cook University, studying a dual degree of Bachelor of Medicine and Bachelor of Surgery. I am interested in cardiothoracic surgery and rural generalism and I plan on pursuing these specialties after my schooling. I intend to work in rural and remote communities in Far North Queensland.

Did you always have a clear focus on your pathway after graduation, or did this develop over time? 

I always knew I wanted to study medicine, however my preference for universities changed throughout my high school experience, as well as my (hopefully) future specialisation. However, I knew I wanted to maximise my opportunities, no matter which university I chose to go to. 

What advice would you give to younger students at St Stephen's? 

I know it's cliché, but don’t give up. You want to give it your best shot, so at the end you aren’t wondering ‘what if’. Keep on top of your work, you don’t want to be overwhelmed when they are all due at once. Look after yourself, you can’t give things your best effort or do your best work if you aren’t taking care of your mental and physical health; you are your first priority. Most importantly, trust and believe in yourself, you are more than capable if you put in the work. Good luck! 

How did you manage the responsibilities of your leadership position, studies and any other outside school commitments during your senior years? 

Writing down my week really helped me manage all of my responsibilities and commitments. I could manage my time more effectively, and find time to fit in everything I wanted or needed to do, even have some free time! I prioritised what was important to me.

What do you put your success down to? 

I would put my success down to a combination of hard work, collaboration, perseverance, determination and passion. While I did sit the exams myself, having group study sessions with my friends and asking my teachers heaps of questions really consolidated my knowledge and filled any gaps I may have had, making myself more confident in my abilities. 

What was the most helpful piece of advice you were given during your schooling? 

To get a whiteboard! It makes studying more enjoyable, and really tests your active recall. Also, to ask for help when you need it. Everyone wants you to succeed, don’t feel embarrassed or scared!

 What were the biggest challenges you had to overcome in your schooling? 

Juggling all my extra-curriculars, studying, work, sports and a social life was a big challenge in my schooling. In the end, I had to prioritise some things before others, but I still had time to do everything – it is doable, even with the daily 2+ hours of travel to and from school. 

Did you take part in any opportunities that had an impact on your success and/or direction? 

I did Work Experience twice in high school, which had a profound impact on my direction and success. For me, it further reinforced my ambition to study medicine, and gave me a snippet of what my future life could look like, which made me work just that little bit harder.  

Where do you see yourself 10 years from now? 

In 10 years from now, I see myself travelling between rural hospitals, sharing my abilities and specialised care between underserved populations in Australia. Hopefully, I’ll be debt free too! 

Thank you, Tully! We wish you all the best with your studies.