Champions come in many shapes and sizes; from women winning the Nobel Prize in Chemistry to our Class of 2020 about to embark on their final term at St Margaret’s College.

Our world and media often fixate on a single story — the girl who went on strike for climate justice, the girl who wanted to play rugby, the girl who spoke against gun violence, the girl who fought for her education. But impressive young women aren’t as rare as headlines suggest.

Indigenous girls in Brazil are fighting for their land and education. In Ethiopia, young women are hosting menstruation workshops to combat stigma and improve public health. Engineering students in Pakistan competed last year as the country’s first all-female Formula race team.

When given opportunities to learn and lead, girls show us again and again that they can and will. Young women everywhere are speaking out, tackling local issues, and showing the next generation of girls that they can do the same.

One does not have to look too far at St Margaret’s to realise that champion girls are not in short supply. Our most recent publication, ‘110 Empowered Women’ introduces us to a collection of St Margaret’s alumni spanning our 110 years, very different women, from different times and place, an incredible diversity of skills and abilities - artists, an astrophysicist, mothers and entrepreneurs from our past, our present and those with potential to influence our future.

And as we came to know their individual stories, we discover much of what they have in common is the Champion attributes we have referenced throughout this year - bravery, curiosity, kindness, inclusivity, pride, respect and spirit.

Our Class of 2020 has led from the front this year and provided a collection of diverse, yet powerful role models for the rest of our girls. Through the action and influence of our Year 13s, they have represented and expanded what their little sisters see to be possible, they have inspired us all to aim higher and they have demonstrated the mindsets and behaviours of how to rise. They are our Champions and we wish them well as they prepare for the next step on their remarkable journeys.