The Queensland Certificate of Education (QCE) Awards have recognised the State’s next generation of scientists, engineers, artificial intelligence designers and doctors.
Minister for Education, Grace Grace said the latest batch of highest achieving school leavers included 38 students who received a QCE for outstanding academic achievement.
“These graduates are among our brightest young minds and are set to become tomorrow’s software engineers, surgeons, data scientists and medical researchers,” Ms Grace said.
“I’m especially proud of these resilient young people from the Class of 2020, who were the first full Prep cohort, the first Year 7s at high school, and the first to switch to our new Senior Assessment and Tertiary Entrance System — and then had to navigate COVID-19.”
The top award went to biotechnology and medicine student, Vishaak Gangasandra (pictured) who attended The Southport School.
Mr Gangasandra achieved straight As in seven senior subjects including an overall mark of 100 per cent in English, mathematics and physics — the top result of the 45,188 students who achieved the Queensland Certificate of Education.
Ms Grace said Mr Gangasandra deserved congratulations for his academic achievements and for his actions in 2015 when he and his father helped save a car accident victim at the Gold Coast just before her car burst into flames.
“Vishaak would like to be a doctor and combine his passion for healthcare with interests in business management and technology,” the Minister said.
Ms Grace said the class of 2020 was the first to graduate in the new QCE system which had introduced new syllabuses, external examinations and the ATAR.
