Where are they now?
Jake Willett
We are taking a look at where our 2017 Year 12 students are this year …. and our first stop was in Melbourne, where our former School Captain, Jake Willett is residing.
2017 Yarrawonga College P-12 Captain Jake Willett is settling into tertiary study after enrolling in a Bachelor of Science at the University of Melbourne.
After studying Biology, Chemistry and Physics during VCE, and receiving an ATAR of 87.85, Jake was excited to be offered his first university course preference and had no hesitation in accepting.
Making the move to Melbourne sees Jake taking up residence in the Melbourne Student Village, just a 10 minute walk to the university campus.
In semester one he will be studying subjects in calculus, physics and biology of cells and organisms, to give himself as many options as possible as he moves toward selecting a major later in his degree.
Jake is also studying Japanese as his breadth unit, which is a subject designed to give students a taste of a something completely unrelated to their field of study.
Long term, Jake is hoping to pursue a major in physics, bioengineering or medicine.
In the short term, he is mastering the art of toasted sandwiches and instant pasta as he works on his cooking skills and settles into university life.
Caitlin O’Dwyer
Caitlin was the DUX of Yarrawonga College P-12 in 2017 with an outstanding ATAR score of 94.55, which included a perfect score of 50 for Outdoor and Environmental studies.
This is the highest ATAR score in the recent history of the school, and the only student to ever receive a perfect score of 50. Her other subjects included English, Biology, Maths Methods, Psychology and Legal Studies.
Caitlin will be attending Monash University to undertake a Double Degree in Law and Science in 2019 after completing a gap year this year.
She is working at Eworks Employment Solutions and completing a Certificate 111 in Business in conjunction with her full time employment. As part of her Gap year she has planned an eight week trip to Europe which is an amazing opportunity, which was a huge motivator while she was working extremely hard for the last two years at her studies and part time work.
Caitlin’s dedication to her studies has resulted in her receiving a MacPherson Smith Rural Foundation Leadership Scholarship and the MSRF Mentoring Scholarship above hundreds of applicants’ state wide, and the Monash University Vice Chancellors Scholarship for Achievement which was awarded to her following her outstanding results. She was also the recipient of the Melbourne University Kwong Lee Dow Young Scholars Program for high achieving students in 2015
Caitlin’s 13 years at Yarrawonga College P-12 has provided her with many leadership and sporting opportunities including being Grade 6 School and House Captain, Year 12 Vice Captain and Sports Captain, a member of the 2015 Kokoda Trek Leadership Team, Lions Club public speaking and the ANZAC day dawn address.
She will enjoy her year of work, travel, netball at Rennie and relaxation before heading off to Monash University next year.