Kia ora, 

This week I would like to acknowledge the achievements of past and present MAC students.  I feel extremely privileged to be able to share their stories with you.   

FLYNN ROSIE - CLASS ACT AWARD 2019 

Speaking te reo is a big part of Flynn Rosie’s busy life.

The 17-year-old Mt Aspiring College pupil is part Maori and has a strong desire to speak the language fluently — something he believes will help open doors for him in future. "My Maori culture is really important to me. I love to speak to other speakers whenever I find them and I love to make sure others can hear us speaking.’’ 

The 1.85m basketball-playing musician never misses a chance to further his ability in languages. ‘‘I’ve been studying Maori properly at school for about three years, and I’ve picked up a little Brazilian Portuguese, and Mandarin.  I’d love to be able to speak heaps of languages when I’m older.’’ 

Flynn was born in Dunedin and spent his early years in Queenstown before his family moved to Hawea Flat, where Flynn attended primary school and began Maori language classes.  When he was 10, the family went on ‘‘a bit of an adventure’’ to Perth for two years while his father David worked on oil rigs. 

Flynn was well accepted by his classmates at Craigie Heights Primary School, in Joondalup, who particularly enjoyed his New Zealand accent. ‘‘Everyone loved it.
Coming from New Zealand, we had grown up quite a bit different, such as sport-wise.’’

He played football and Australian Rules, and continued his interest in basketball. He now plays for Mt Aspiring College in the Upper Clutha men’s basketball league. 

He plays guitar and has been drummer in the college jazz band and two rock bands — Theory and Liquid Breakfast — which have done well in the Smokefree Rockquest. 

Flynn works part-time at the Big Fig restaurant, where he is able to practice his language skills. 

He expects this will help him as he begins an international business course at the University of Otago next year. 

‘‘This will help me on to the track of foreign diplomacy and foreign relations.’’ 

Achievements: Taha Maori award (2018); cultural and sporting blues; Maori award; Te Waipounamu scholarship and business award; kapahaka leader; cultural committee deputy chairman; head Maori pupil; basketball captain (2018-19); band member and worship team member at New Life Church; Matariki tipu hou kapahaka member; drum teacher; involved in Yami and MACStock music events.

Role model: Dad. ‘‘I’ve always looked up to him, often without even realising.’’

Hopes for the future: To study business at the University of Otago and travel the world.

JAIME TOEPFER - CLASS ACT AWARD 2019

Scholar is the word that would probably best define Jaime Toepfer. 

The 18-year-old Mt Aspiring College pupil has a wide range of interests, but reading and learning about new things are what she has always enjoyed the most. Jaime said she reads both fiction and non-fiction, ranging across subjects as diverse as politics, history and physics, and in the holidays she would read a book every two days. 

This year, as well as studying for NCEA level 3, Jaime completed online papers in law and international relations from the University of Waikato in the first half of the year, achieving A grades in both, and she is currently studying a philosophy paper from the University of Canterbury.

In July and August, Jaime spent two and a-half weeks at the London International Youth Science Forum attending lectures on science and different cultures, and visiting universities and institutes around the United Kingdom.

Although Jaime has described herself as ‘‘quite academic’’, she said moving to Wanaka from Auckland when she was 10 gave her the opportunity to get involved in outdoor activities such as skiing, mountain biking and tramping. 

She sailed on the Spirit of Adventure in 2016, completed a 21-day Outward Bound course in 2018, and is working towards achieving her gold Duke of Edinburgh Hillary Award.

As she also has Dutch citizenship, Jaime is considering studying for a liberal arts degree in the Netherlands next year, with a view to eventually having a career working in an embassy, the United Nations, ‘‘or somewhere I am helping others and making a difference’’.

Jaime credits her success to having a supportive family, her ‘‘amazing’’ friends with shared interests, and the teachers who encouraged her to further explore her passions beyond what she was being taught in the classroom.

Achievements: NCEA levels 1 and 2 with excellence; highest number of excellence credits at NCEA level 2 (2018); University of Waikato first-year law and international relations papers (2019); school awards for highest overall achievement in years 7-10, highest achiever English years 11 and 12, highest achiever biology year 12, highest achiever distance learning year 12; academic blues (2018); academic committee member (2018-19); attended University of Otago Gifted and Talented Marine Science Camp (2016); Duke of Edinburgh Hillary Silver Award (2017); attended Aotearoa Youth Declaration (2019); attended Wellington Model Westminster (2019); awarded Royal Society Te Aparangi scholarship and selected to attend the International Youth Science Forum in London (2019).

Role models: No role model.

Hopes for the future: To work for an embassy or the United Nations.

DR KATARINA SCHWARZ

After Katarina left MAC, she went on to the University of Otago where she studied historical slavery, and later obtained her PhD. You can click here to read up on her fight against modern day slavery. 

ASH FOGELBERG & NICK FRANDSEN

Former MAC students Ash and Nick, have been living in Australia where the tech gurus have been making a real name for themselves. Check out Stuff's write-up on the two Wanaka friends here.

ZACHARY KAYE 

Zach was our 2018 Dux.  Zach spoke with Mandy about what he has been up to lately 

Where and what are you currently doing / studying?

I am currently studying a Bachelor of Engineering at the University of Canterbury. I plan to specialise in Software Engineering.

What has been the highlight of your time at uni so far?

The highlight of my time at uni so far has been meeting new people. The University of Canterbury and its clubs and societies give you a great opportunity to meet new people as they host many social events throughout the year.

What aspects have been harder than you expected?

In the last week of term, you often find out that there are multiple tests and assignments due the first week back from break. So, I found it difficult adjusting to the fact that your lecturers expect you to do a lot of study during the term breaks.

What is the best advice that you could give to our current Year 13’s?

For the students who are interested in tertiary education, I would recommend a hall of residence in your first year. At a hall, you get to meet a bunch of new people and the halls offer numerous services, tutors, social events, etc. I would also recommend studying a degree you will enjoy. Most degrees offer electives, so if there is a subject that you enjoyed at school but is not what you intend to major in, then you can still take it.

And what advice would you give to our current year 12 students?

Next year is your last year at high school. My advice to you is to not stress too much over your grades and exams. Try and spend as much time as possible with your friends because it can become difficult to remain in contact once everybody goes off to uni.

Finally, don’t worry if you are currently unsure of what you want to do when you leave school. Talking to friends who have previously gone to/are at uni can be a major help in deciding if uni is the best option for you.

Did you feel well prepared when you went to uni and, when you got there, were you?

For course-related work, I did feel well prepared. Mount Aspiring College offered a great number of NCEA internals and externals which prepared me for my uni course. From speaking to friends at uni, I have found that several other schools did not provide all the externals that were offered at Mount Aspiring College. This meant that they had to learn whole topics within a matter of weeks.

Non-course wise I didn’t feel prepared moving away from Wanaka. To be honest, I didn’t know what to expect and was dreading the moment when I had to leave home. It took me a few weeks to adjust to living in Christchurch. Although, once I settled in, I found it easy to remain focused and motivated with my course work, but to also enjoy the time meeting new people. If I did have any issues, the University of Canterbury and Hall of Residence staff along with my family, were incredibly supportive. 

If you have stories about any of our other past or present students that you would like to share, then please email learn@mtaspiring.school.nz

Have a safe and enjoyable weekend everyone. 

Nga mihi 
Wayne