18-year-old Jarrod McMurray has always had a passion for Industrial Technology. A passion which has led him to top his school in HSC marks.
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Jarrod earned an impressive 100 per cent in Industrial Technology - top in the state.
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Jarrod has been attending the Dubbo School of Distance Education since Year 10. Something he said came as a result of a horrific Year 9.
Jarrod is on the autism spectrum and he admits it hasn't always been easy working within the traditional school system.
Doing school via Distance Education has been a challenge. On many levels you essentially need to teach yourself and be motivated to learn without the ongoing assistance of a teacher, he said.
As I am super self disciplined and have no trouble motivating myself, completing work was easier, but the limited time that I had with my teachers made it tough as you do have to do a lot of learning on your own.
The school has been incredibly supportive and I am so thankful for my teachers.
Jarrod also received a Band 6 in Engineering Studies, Mathematics Advanced and, Design and Technology.
I really enjoy industry and maths based subjects, as apposed to English or other similar classes. My brain works in black and white, there is often a definite answer to these subjects such as Maths, as apposed to a range of answers that could be shown with English, Jarrod said.
I thoroughly enjoyed this project, despite it being stressful, as I have a keen interest in railways and trains.
As part of the subject, students were required to identify a problem and design a solution in the form of a physical model and and lengthy portfolio.
This was a lot of pressure but I was able to complete both, and provide the detail needed. It was huge, Jarrod said.
Jarrods problem was his identified need for a train station in Northern Maitland. Having lived there in the past, he said he could clearly see the growing need for a station in the area.
I had to design and build the proposed station and complete a 25,000 word portfolio, detailing the what, why, where, environmental impacts and more, Jarrod said.
The portfolio also included all my designs, sketches and CAD drawings, which eventuated into a 3D model, created using a 3D printer. It was very involved but the final product was worth all the hours, considering the skills that I had obtained over the year.
As with everything this year, it was made harder thanks to the COVID pandemic, something Jarrod understands but still laments.
The pandemic has made this year much harder in many ways but only slowed down my project timelines, as sourcing materials, components and other became more difficult, Jarrod said. Often orders would be cancelled, or have massive delays of between 6 and 8 weeks. I eventually was forced to alter the final projects but I was still happy to have achieved something of great magnitude, he added.
I thoroughly enjoyed this project, despite it being stressful, as I have a keen interest in railways and trains.
Jarrod was part of an adapted Zoom-version of the usual ceremony.
Despite having received many awards, I hate not being able to do it the way we previously could. Don't get me wrong, I don't love being the centre of attention at all but it would've been nice to be able to receive some of these awards in person, Jarrod said.
Jarrod has been accepted in to Civil Engineering (Honours) at Newcastle University for next year, and has already received the Vice Chancellor of Newcastle University's Scholarship for Academic Excellence. Newcastle University also called him recently to tell him to that he was eligible for another scholarship.
The pandemic has certainly changed the way we do things and this year will not be one to forget. I am thankful though that we have access to modern technology such as the internet and computers, allowing us to stay connected, Jarrod said.
It has allowed us to remain safe and be able to carry on with out lives at home.
You certainly build a very close relationship with your teachers when you have one on one contact with them for half to an hour with them each week. It actually feels odd and kind of sad to know those weekly calls are over.
Local Executive Directors Lisa Muir and Dean White commended all Western NSW students on completing their HSC in a year that has brought a unique set of challenges.
Mr White said many students were already enjoying the fruits of their labour as they embark on apprenticeships, traineeships or other employment while others have been assured of an early entry place at university.
"There are certainly plenty of reasons to celebrate," Mr White said.
"Parents and teachers can certainly share their pride as they look back on 13 years of schooling and how the students have been rewarded for their efforts.
"These results are sealing students' personal goals and should confidently take them to the next step of further study or employment."
Ms Muir said the release of HSC merit lists today by the NSW Educational Standards Authority (NESA - which administers the HSC) has brought a whole new dimension to celebrations.
"There have been some exceptional results and everyone who has been recognised on a NESA achievement rankings list deserves special congratulations," Ms Muir said.
Mudgee High School's Dux for 2020 is William Wiseman, who earned an ATAR of 95.95 and no fewer than 3 Band 6 results.
Other students who achieved Band 6 results were Ethan Beard, Ed Bevege, Ned Dickson, Connor McNeill, Cooper Rowe and Alex Sutherland.
A total of 9 Band 6 and 74 Band 5 results were earned by students of Mudgee High.