Congratulations to our 2016 Graduating Class!

After receiving their OP results in December, Pacific Lutheran College’s 2016 graduates are looking forward to the next phase of their learning journey.

Of the cohort of 75 students, 76 per cent were OP eligible and of these, 72 per cent achieved an OP1-15. Further, 100 per cent of these students have received tertiary offers. 

Engineering, Law, Journalism, IT, Science and Property Economics are just some of the areas of study that our 2016 graduates will be embarking on this year.

2016 College Dux, Bailey Hockam, achieved the highest honour, an OP1.

“I was really happy with my result as it allowed me to get into my first preference at university, a dual degree in Engineering and Science at the University of Queensland (UQ),” Bailey said.

“I’m looking forward to the freedom and independence this year will bring and think the course will be really interesting.”

Gaining employment is a top priority for Bailey, as well as seeing the world.

“After completing my degree, I would like to work and maintain a job in the engineering field and hopefully have the chance to travel,” he said.

2016 College graduate, Zane Gear, achieved an OP2 and will also be studying a dual degree in Engineering and Science this year at UQ.

“The course cut off was an OP6, so that’s what I was working towards last year,” Zane said.

“I’m looking forward to studying and living with three of my friends from Pacific, who were also accepted into the same course at UQ.”

This year, Zane plans to concentrate on adjusting to life in Brisbane and knuckling down to perform well at university.

“In the future, I hope to do some travelling and would like to work in the Aerospace industry,” he said.

2016 College Captain, Jack Bange, received an OP4 and has been accepted into a Bachelor of Engineering (Hons) / Bachelor of Information Technology dual degree at UQ.

“At the beginning of Year 12, my OP target was a 6, which was roughly what I needed to get into my preferred course. I was very relieved that my extra efforts paid off and I received an OP4,” Jack said.

“My last year at Pacific was a personal highlight for me and that is largely due to a great senior cohort, a cooperative student leadership team and caring and supportive staff.”

Jack is hoping to work in the IT / Electrical Engineering field once he has completed his degree.

“At present, I’m leaning towards a career in data system design and architecture and am hoping to spend a period of time working overseas, ideally in Europe,” he said.

2016 Spirituality and Service Action Group Captain, Emmerson Dodds, received an OP5 and has been accepted to study a Bachelor of Property Economics at the Queensland University of Technology’s (QUT) Garden Point campus.

“I wasn't expecting an OP5, I was just hoping for a single digit, so I was extremely happy with my result,” Emmerson said.

“In the future I am hoping to work in the development area of the property industry and work on building my own property portfolio.”

2016 College Vice Captain, Chelsea Ricotta, has chosen to stay on the Sunshine Coast, preferring the beach to the city.

“I achieved an OP8 and received an early offer to study a dual degree in Law and Journalism at the University of the Sunshine Coast,” Chelsea said.

“I was aiming for a single digit OP score so it was a big relief when the results were released.”

Although Chelsea isn’t too sure about life after university, she is optimistic about what the future holds.

“I’m not quite sure what I want to do once I finish my degree, but I’m sure I’ll figure it out along the way,” she said.

While most of the 2016 graduating class are tertiary bound, a number of students are also embarking on alternate pathways in other vocational areas through traineeships and apprenticeships.

2016 College graduate, Lily Brown, studied a Certificate III in Basic Health Care during her senior years at Pacific and has been successful in gaining employment at the Sunshine Coast University Hospital (SCUH) as an Assistant Nurse.

“Being able to complete the Cert III at school definitely helped, otherwise I wouldn’t have gotten the job,” Lily said.

“I was so happy to find out I was successful as I really wanted to do nursing.”

Lily will commence her position at the SCUH at the end of March.

We celebrate with the entire 2016 graduating cohort and congratulate all students who worked hard to achieve their personal goals.