Helena Hornbacher
WAKATIPU High School pupil Helena Hornbacher’s Google calendar is, by her own admission, ‘‘very detailed’’.
It has to be, to manage her hectic schedule, which is unlikely to change when she heads to university.
Helena enjoys learning in general so took a wide range of subjects, ranging from German, chemistry, drama, history and English to a universitylevel maths paper.
Music has also been a strong theme throughout her high school years.
She completed NCEA music in 2021, and continued it through extracurriculars this year.
She is applying for ‘‘a bunch’’ of universities before deciding where she wants to complete her double degree — a bachelor of laws and a bachelor of arts, focusing primarily on politics, philosophy, economics and international relations.
Helena also hopes to do some papers in maths or the performing arts, ‘‘just because they’re fun’’.
As to her future career, Helena hopes to combine law and politics, for example, in diplomacy or public law.
Role model: Siblings Melina O’Keeffe and Etienne Hornbacher. Hopes for the future: To make a difference and have a positive impact. Achievements: Academic lead prefect (2021 & 2022); Ad Alta (201822); Ad Alta Blue (201822); Ad Alta Gold (201921); Bronze Excellence Award (201922); Silver Excellence Award (202022); Gold Excellence Award (202021); Principal’s Award (201821); cultural achievement blue (201821); Cultural Commendation (201921); Pounamu Award (excellence endorsement NCEA levels 1, 2 and 3) (2022); NCEA Scholarship drama and German (2021); distinction (L3 German) (2021); commendation (chemistry, drama, English and history) (2021); ICAS Medal winner (English and writing) (2021); distinction (English) (2020); commendation (drama and science) (2020); ICAS Medal winner (English) (2020); ICAS credit (maths and science) (2020); distinction (critical thinking in the humanities, science, English and Mandarin) (2019); commendation (drama and English) (2019); ICAS distinction (English) (2019); ICAS credit (maths) (2019); Bronze, Silver and Gold Akonga Awards (2019); Robertson Family Trophy for AllRound Effort and Participation (2019); Wakatipu Lions Club Trophy for Excellence in Writing (2019); Wakatipu High School Trophy for Outstanding Potential in Junior Drama (2019); distinction (music) (2018); commendation (English, maths, social studies and drama) (2018).