Eight students from Sydney Catholic Schools (SCS) have received First in Course honours in the 2023 Higher School Certificate (HSC). 

The students represent seven different schools from right across the Sydney Archdiocese and placed first in a diverse range of subjects, including four languages courses. 

Marist Catholic College Penshurst student Sylvia Veljancevski and La Salle Catholic College Bankstown student Ivona Ristevski placed equal first in Macedonian Continuers; Casimir Catholic College Marrickville student Nicole Joanna Tapang placed first in Filipino Continuers; and Marist Catholic College Penshurst student Paula Karoglan placed first in Croatian Continuers. 

SCS students topped both Studies of Religion courses, with Marist Sisters’ College Woolwich student Gabriella Michalopoulos placing first in Studies of Religion I and Brigidine College Randwick student Yasmeen Janschek placing first in Studies of Religion II. 

All Saints Catholic College Liverpool student Adam Schon also placed first in Information and Digital Technology Examination, while Good Samaritan Catholic College Hinchinbrook student Jaquelyn Loria placed first in Tourism, Travel and Events Examination. 

The eight students were among 128 students from 89 schools in the state who topped their HSC courses.  

The students were acknowledged in a ceremony on Wednesday morning at Western Sydney University in Parramatta by Deputy Premier and Minister for Education and Early Learning, The Hon. Prue Car. 

Brigidine College Randwick student Yasmeen Janschek said she was pleasantly surprised after finding out she had placed first in Studies of Religion II. 

“I couldn’t believe it to be honest. I was very excited. I thought that I had done pretty well but I did not expect to get first at all,” she said. 

“It was all up to my teacher, Ms Wood, she’s just amazing. She took me through every part of the syllabus …