Students ace Year 12
Schools
Students from Catholic schools exceeded expectations in last year’s SACE results with a 5.3 per cent increase in the number of A grades achieved.
The number of SACE merits awarded to Catholic school students in South Australia also increased, with 436 merits achieved in 2025.
Catholic Education SA (CESA) executive director Neil McGoran said these results, which recognise students performing at the highest level in their subjects, reflect the strength of teaching and learning across Catholic schools.
A total of 99.9 per cent of Catholic students (3718) successfully completed their SACE.
CESA reported that 67 Aboriginal graduates had a 100 per cent SACE completion rate and 2936 students studied nationally accredited VET (Vocational Education and Training) courses as part of their SACE. This includes 559 VET graduates from across three Catholic technical colleges.
Several high achieving students spoke to The Southern Cross about their thoughts on the future as well as posing for a group photo shoot on the centre court at Memorial Drive just days ahead of the 2026 Adelaide International tennis tournament.
Emily Thomas was the 2025 dux of St Aloysius College with an ATAR of 98.35. She wants to study law at Adelaide University and is in little doubt about what she’d like to achieve.
“I want to be the beacon of justice in a world where it is quite dark. I have concerns about where the world is heading,” she said.
“As the younger generation, we do have that responsibility for the future.”
To widen her horizons while gaining valuable work experience and extra cash, Emily has been working in a gynaecology and fertility clinic in the Adelaide CBD.
“SACE provides students with the opportunity to gain experience in a field of interest for a week, and I was eager to take advantage of this by pursuing my passion for women’s health,” she said.
The experience inspired her to complete a Certificate III in medical business administration in Year 11 with her research project on fertility and endometriosis earning her a merit award.
St Michael’s College dux Michele Pipicelli will soon be leaving South Australia to study at the University of New South Wales in Sydney.
Michele achieved an ATAR of 99.15 and excelled in maths, while scoring a perfect 20 in university studies. Medicine is a possibility but maths is his first choice. Memorial Drive was a fitting venue for Michele, who is a keen tennis player.
Mary MacKillop College dux, Sophie Healy, attained an ATAR of 99.25, including one A+ merit in Activating Identities and Futures (AIF) and an A+ in health and wellbeing.
Sophie also received the Mary MacKillop College Service and Leadership Award for 2025.
“I didn’t expect it. I was shocked,” said Sophie, who plays touch football and netball as well as dancing competitively.
The Cardjin College dux for 2025 was Noah Etiennette with an ATAR of 97.5. Noah, who often works late evening shifts in Bunnings is keen to study medicine (or paramedicine as an alternative route) at Flinders University.
“My mum is a nurse, she comes home and talks about stories and challenges and it has really inspired me. I have always been interested in medicine and human biology,” said Noah, who wants to specialise in cardiology.
He is also close to furthering a good weekend career in soccer, playing on the wing for Hallett Cove FC.
“I made my debut for the reserves at 15 and am hoping to get into the first team soon,” said the Liverpool supporter.
Very close to Noah in the Cardijn College awards was Lily-Mai Dobson, who was the proxime accessit with an ATAR of 96.9.
Lily-Mai is keen to study a degree in medical radiation and imaging, with the idea germinating when she broke her elbow and wrist playing netball. She said the importance of helping others was brought home to her by the first-class treatment she received at Flinders Medical Centre.
Katia Principe also wants to study medical radiation at Adelaide University. The dux of St Mary’s College with an ATAR of 98.55, Katia also came away with SACE merits in general maths and psychology.
She has an intriguing sideline as a hip-hop dancer with Precizion Dance in Adelaide. She is part of a 10-person squad that dances before and during Adelaide 36ers basketball games.
Katie said she enjoys the occasion and no longer gets nervous beforehand.
“And it means I get to watch the game,” she added.
Dux of Our Lady of the Sacred Heart College was Nguyet Anh Trinh with an ATAR of 98.25. She is interested in the arts, with English and history her favourites.
“I have wanted to be a teacher since primary school,” she said.
“I have always had such a big respect for my teachers and I want to continue that love.”
A talented painter, her forte is landscapes and flowers, and she also loves reading the classics.
Charlee Brooksby is all set to study occupational therapy at Adelaide University.
“I want to work with kids and help people who are less privileged and help people get back on their feet,” said the Gleeson College dux who achieved an ATAR of 96.3.
A dislocated elbow was part of her inspiration to veer towards the medical world, a leaning that may well come in handy given her main extracurricular activity.
“I play AFL with Norwood, on the wing,” she said. “I love it. I find it an outlet, not thinking about studies and other things.”
And she’s already thinking big.
“I hope to get drafted with AFLW,” said Charlee. She shared the honour of dux with Melvynn Celles who also achieved an ATAR of 96.3.
Sophia Jackson is adamant that she is taking a gap year in 2026, working for the first half of the year and with Europe very much on her agenda for part two.
The Sacred Heart College proxime accesit – with an ATAR of 99.4 (three merits) – will be heading back to the classroom to help girls just one academic year below her.
“I’m going back to school as a tutor for Year 12s. You know what they want and how they think. I did like helping people last year,” she said.
Dux of Cabra Dominican College was Amelie Wescombe (99.35), who also performed one of the key roles in her college musical to great acclaim.
Other duces were: Luke Tsavdaridis (99.95) Blackfriars Priory School; Jasmine Tsiros (99.15) Kildare College; Lyla D’Arsie-Hausler (99.6) Loreto College; Faith McDowall (97)
St Columba College; Annabelle Pham (97.1) St Francis de Sales College; Jolie Vaughan (98.75) Tension Woods College; Jia Bao (Lachlan) Wang (99.75) Mercedes College and Benjamin Khuu (99.85) Mount Carmel College.
