Bunbury Catholic College 2021 dux Emmaline Barbetti accepts prestigious Kelderman award

Just weeks out of starting her journey into university, Emmaline Barbetti has added another academic accolade to her name in reward for her hard work. Bunbury Catholic College recently held a special assembly acknowledging the 2021 graduates that excelled in their WACE exams, with school dux Miss Barbetti, 17, receiving the school’s prestigious Kelderman Award for Excellence after achieving an ATAR score of 97.35. In a speech, Miss Barbetti thanked the school and the Kelderman family as she accepted the award. “At the start of year 12, I was challenged to improve my English results,” she said. “For me, I had always put my focus into my maths and science subjects. “I was surprised to find that at the end of the year, English became my top ATAR subject. “I’ve always strived to be a high achiever and during my ATAR pathway at the start of Year 11, I challenged myself that at the end of Year 12, I could look back and be proud of my results and not have any regrets.” Miss Barbetti also gave sound advice to the new cohort of Year 12 students who attended the assembly. “Surround yourself with friends and don’t be afraid to ask for help when you need it,” she said. “Don’t feel pressured that your study methods aren’t exactly like your friends’ because they aren’t meant to be —find what suits you. “As for studying, I didn’t have a typical study plan as I would come home from school, ignore my perfectly fine desk in my bedroom and instead spread all my books across the kitchen bench. “I felt comfortable studying there, I still felt like I was part of the family and I wasn’t isolated in my room.” The Kelderman Award for Excellence is presented to the highest achieving ATAR student each year, with the accolade named after the late Joseph Kelderman, whose family have shared a close association with Bunbury Catholic College over the past 40 years after his five children all attended the school. Bunbury Catholic College principal Michael Pepper said Mr Kelderman had enormous faith in the potential of young people and their achievements and wanted to be able to acknowledge the student who had gained the highest score in Year 12. Jaida Bradbury accepted the school’s Best Vocation and Training Student award for her efforts while Year 11 student Lily Ratcliffe was Bunbury Catholic College’s third consecutive recipient of a Father James Wall Bursary, which is presented to a student displaying leadership potential both within the college and in the wider community.