Pupil scores 100% in scholarship exam
A YOUNG Queenstown woman has scored perfect marks on her way to becoming New Zealand’s top photography student.
But it was not until Wakatipu High School student Meg Jolly told her photography teacher, Abbey Brown, about her results that she realised what she had done.
‘‘I looked at my results but wasn’t sure what my final mark was until I showed Mrs Brown,’’ Miss Jolly said.
‘‘It wasn’t until I was asked to confirm whether I would be attending the awards ceremony at Parliament that I realised what it was.’’
Mrs Brown said she knew Miss Jolly’s portfolio was special and expected it to achieve an ‘‘outstanding award’’ but to receive the top scholarship award for 2016 was a wonderful surprise.
Wakatipu High School principal Steve Hall said for someone to score 100% in a scholarship exam was ‘‘unheard of’’.
Miss Jolly’s portfolio examined the changing role of women in society and masculine attitudes towards femininity and sexuality.
‘‘The subject was something I had a real passion for but was also current,’’ she said.
Her portfolio was dominated by the colour pink, which she used to paint the things she photographed — including her younger sister, Bella.
Miss Jolly was one of only 34 students throughout New Zealand to be awarded the $6000 Top Scholar Award.
She leaves this weekend to study communications at Massey University’s Wellington campus. Miss Jolly said she looked forward to discovering the opportunities the degree would provide her.
‘‘I’m interested in bringing marketing, communications and journalism together to see where it will take me.
‘‘My dream job would be a magazine editor.’’