Scholars and Honours Board
A special feature of this school is its magnificent academic record. The primary focus of Auckland Grammar School is academia – every other aspect of school life is secondary to this.
The first lines of our mission states: “Auckland Grammar School will provide young men with a rigorous academic education. Each young man is expected to pursue excellence in acquiring knowledge and skills while upholding the School’s values.”
The young men who cross stage at the annual Scholars’ Assembly deserve recognition for academic excellence. It is important to the very being of this school that we celebrate academia in the manner we do.
Performance in Cambridge A level examinations and Scholarship examinations or equivalents in different decades of our history, have provided the benchmark indicators for inclusion on the prestigious honours boards that frame this hall.
These boards recognise top academic performers through our School’s history. Students who sat NZ Scholarship examinations and gained three or more scholarships are included on the honours board.
The School through time has used external examinations as its benchmark. Because of their competitive nature and the all-round standard of attainment needed for success, these examinations inevitably favour young men who have been committed to their studies and have built resilience.
The Honours Boards that surround our hall are symbolic of the School’s academic mission and inclusion on them is rigorously earned.
The group of young men we honour are top academic students from a talented Form 7 and 6A and B who were part of the make-up that earned this school its position as a top performing Cambridge School with nine special awards in Cambridge examinations, which included:
- Two High Achievement Awards
- Eight Top in New Zealand Awards; and
- Five High Achievement Awards
Alongside these awards the School was once again one of the top three performing schools in the country in NZQA Scholarship examinations, after students earned 217 individual scholarship awards in 2023. There is no doubt this supports our vision: ‘pre -eminence in boys’ secondary education.’
It is appropriate on this occasion, in the Great Hall, that we recognise our past – the foundation on which academic success continues to be built. There are many distinguished scholars who studied at Grammar and later received higher honours and academic recognition. Eminent scholars like Professor Peter McNaughton ’62, Professor Keith Hunter ’65, Professor Mark Warner ’65 and many others who have made contributions across a myriad of fields.
It is indeed a feature of Auckland Grammar School that the Honours Boards are around the hall and that we meet here daily – this symbolises the primary place that academia has in our School and is well-respected by our Old Boy community and the general public.
Entry onto this list is restricted to the top 10% of the entire form 7 cohort plus 6A and 6B. The lowest average mark on the Honours Board for 2023 is 92%.
A number of scholars have earned scholarships into NZ universities and many have gained direct entry into overseas universities. This is testament to the calibre of these young men and the support given to them by masters throughout their tenure at Auckland Grammar School.
My thanks to our masters for their commitment to providing rigorous academic courses and pathways, on call mentoring and tutoring that has aided the level of success celebrated. I hope their success serves as motivation for others to strive for excellence in your studies. Such success does not happen by accident.
Sir John Graham, the ninth Headmaster of Auckland Grammar School, offered the students at the end of 1976 the following advice. He said:
“Start thinking about what you want to do, don’t aim for the middle, aim for the top, and the top is not necessarily playing for New Zealand in sport, or being the top accountant or lawyer or heart surgeon. Aiming for the top means aiming for your personal best. It is not unhealthy to aim high; it is not unhealthy to be ambitious, but it is folly not to do your best. If you aim to do your best, you will be well along the way to making life the fun and challenge it should be.”
We have a group of scholars on stage who aimed for the top and reached their academic goals. We congratulate them for “leaving the jersey in a better place” and I encourage each of you to aim for the top in what you do, and enjoy the journey along the way, and the reward if it follows.
2023 Scholars:
| Name | Percentage scored and Scholarships | Extracurricular Activities | Area of study in 2024 |
| O. J. Gunson | 96.33% 7 Scholarships with 4 Outstanding |
Duke of Edinburgh Silver Scholarships in Biology, English and Statistics Outstanding Scholarships in Accounting, Calculus, Chemistry and Physics An NZQA Scholarship Premier Award winner in 2024 Top in Subject in NZQA Scholarship Accounting and Physics Top in New Zealand in Cambridge AS Level Accounting Top in New Zealand in Cambridge A Level Chemistry University Entrance Scholars Board 2022 |
A conjoint Bachelor of Engineering and Bachelor of Commerce at the University of Auckland |
| Y. M. Luan | 96.33% 3 Scholarships with 1 Outstanding |
Asian Board Games Club Scholarships in Calculus and Chemistry Outstanding Scholarship in Physics Top in New Zealand in Cambridge A Level Physics |
A Bachelor of Engineering at the University of Auckland |
| C. C. P. McCulley | 95.67% 4 Scholarships with 3 Outstanding |
Asian Cultural Group Scholarship in Chemistry Outstanding Scholarships in English, Physics and Statistics An NZQA Outstanding Scholar Award winner in 2024 University Entrance Scholars Board 2022 |
A Bachelor of Engineering at the University of Auckland |
| J. K. D. Kumar | 95.33% 7 Scholarships with 4 Outstanding |
Chronicle Committee Scholarships in Biology, English and Latin Outstanding Scholarships in Chemistry, Geography, Physics and Statistics An NZQA Scholarship Premier Award winner in 2024 Top in Subject in NZQA Scholarship Geography Top in New Zealand in Cambridge A Level Biology |
A Bachelor of Science (majoring in Biomedical Science) at the University of Auckland |
| A. Sun | 95% 4 Scholarships |
Asian Cultural Group Scholarships in Chemistry, English, Physics and Statistics Top in New Zealand in Cambridge A Level English Literature University Entrance Scholars Board 2022 |
A Bachelor of Medical Science at Griffith University |
| O. Gupta | 94.33% 6 Scholarships with 1 Outstanding |
Asian Cultural Tutoring Scholarships in Calculus, Chemistry, English, Physics and Statistics Outstanding Scholarship in Accounting An NZQA Outstanding Scholar Award winner in 2024 University Entrance Scholars Board 2022 |
A Bachelor of Commerce (majoring in Accounting, Finance and Commercial Law) at the University of Auckland |
| R. Madhusudhan | 94.33% 5 Scholarships with 1 Outstanding |
Badminton Scholarships in Calculum, Chemistry, Physics and Statistics Outstanding Scholarship in Economics High Achievement in Cambridge AS Level Economics Top in New Zealand in Cambridge A Level Economics An NZQA Outstanding Scholar Award winner in 2024 |
A Bachelor of Engineering (with Honours) at the University of Auckland |
| S. S. Wheeler | 94% 5 Scholarships with 1 Outstanding |
Chamber Music Scholarships in Biology, Earth and Space Science, French and Statistics Outstanding Scholarship in Chemistry High Achievement in Cambridge AS Level Geography Top in the World in Cambridge A Level Geography An NZQA Outstanding Scholar Award winner in 2024 |
A Bachelor of Biomedical Science at the University of Auckland |
| J. C. K. You | 94% 3 Scholarships |
Asian Board Games Club Scholarship in Chemistry, Physics and Statistics |
A Bachelor of Biomedical Science at the University of Auckland |
| R. J. Zhang | 93.33% 5 Scholarships |
Asian Cultural Group Scholarships in Calculus, Chemistry, English, Physics and Statistics |
A Bachelor of Engineering (with Honours), majoring in Software Engineering at the University of Sydney |
| R. J. ter Wal | 93.33% 4 Scholarships |
Chess Scholarships in Accounting, Calculus, Chemistry and Statistics |
A conjoint Bachelor of Commerce and Bachelor of Engineering at the University of Auckland |
| P. Q. N. Nguyen | 93.33% 3 Scholarships |
Asian Cultural Group Scholarships in Chemistry, English and Geography |
A Bachelor of Engineering (with Honours) at the University of Auckland |
| E. J. Moy | 93.33% 2 Scholarships with 1 Outstanding |
Football Scholarship in Chemistry Outstanding Scholarship in English |
A Bachelor of Science (majoring in Biomedical Science) at the University of Auckland |
| A. Shinde | 93% 4 Scholarships with 1 Outstanding |
Asian Cultural Tutoring Scholarships in Agriculture and Horticulture, Earth and Space Science, English and Health and Physical Education Outstanding Scholarship in Geography An NZQA Outstanding Scholar Award winner in 2024 University Entrance Scholars Board 2022 |
A Bachelor of Science at the University of Auckland |
| T. M. Harnett | 93% 4 Scholarships |
Grammar Virtuosi Scholarships in Calculus, Chemistry, Physics and Statistics |
A Bachelor of Engineering at the University of Auckland |
| H. F. Yu | 93% 3 Scholarships |
Asian Cultural Group Scholarships in Agriculture and Horticulture, Chemistry and Physics |
A Bachelor of Science and Doctor of Medicine at the University of Sydney |
| E. J. D. Hernandez | 92.67% 5 Scholarships with 2 Outstanding |
Asian Cultural Group Scholarships in Biology, Calculus and Chemistry Outstanding Scholarships in Physics and Statistics An NZQA Outstanding Scholar Award winner in 2024 |
A Bachelor of Science (majoring in Computer Science and Psychology) at the University of Auckland |
| M. W. Tyler | 92.67% 4 Scholarships with 1 Outstanding |
Athletics Scholarships in Chemistry, Health and Physical Education and Physics Outstanding Scholarship in English |
A conjoint Bachelor of Engineering and Bachelor of Sport at the University of Canterbury |
| W. Zhang-Sun | 92.67% 4 Scholarships |
Badminton Scholarships in Biology, Chemistry, English and Physics University Entrance Scholars Board 2022 |
A Bachelor of Science (with a double major in Computer Science and Anatomy and Histology) at the University of Sydney |
| Z. Song | 92.67% 3 Scholarships |
Asian Cultural Tutoring Scholarships in Calculus, Physics and Statistics |
Studying at a university in the United States, yet to be decided |
| J. R. Lin | 92.67% 2 Scholarships |
Asian Board Games Club Scholarships in Chemistry and Physics |
A Bachelor of Science at the University of Melbourne |
| D. Nimmakayala | 92.67% 2 Scholarships |
Asian Cultural Group Scholarships in Calculus and Physics |
A Bachelor of Biomedicine at the University of Auckland |
| H. A. Aftab | 92.33% 2 Scholarships |
Aerospace Group Scholarships in Chemistry and Physics |
A Bachelor of Medical Science and Doctor of Medicine at Griffith University |
| A. S. Verma | 87.2% 6 Scholarships with 1 Outstanding |
Drama Scholarships in Biology, Chemistry, Physics, Religious Studies and Statistics Outstanding Scholarship in Calculus An NZQA Outstanding Scholar Award winner in 2024 |
7A |
| N. J. Clarke | 91.67% 5 Scholarships with 3 Outstanding |
Ethics Olympiad Scholarships in Latin and History Outstanding Scholarships in Classical Studies, English and Media Studies An NZQA Scholarship Premier Award winner in 2024 |
A conjoint Bachelor of Arts and a Bachelor of Law at the University of Auckland |
| E. Chuang | 92% 5 Scholarships with 1 Outstanding |
Asian Cultural Tutorial Service Scholarships in Chemistry, English, Physics and Statistics Outstanding Scholarship in Calculus An NZQA Outstanding Scholar Award winner in 2024 |
7A |
| B. Y. S. Larsen |
89.4% |
Asian Cultural Tutorial Service Scholarships in Earth and Space Science, Economics, Geography, Media Studies and Religious Studies |
7A |
| M. O. Sobr | 94.33% 4 Scholarships with 2 Outstanding |
Chess Scholarships in Chemistry and Statistics Outstanding Scholarships in Calculus and Physics An NZQA Outstanding Scholar Award winner in 2024. |
A Bachelor of Engineering at the University of Auckland |
| L. W. Toner | 91.8% 4 Scholarships with 2 Outstanding |
Interact Group Scholarships in Chemistry, Geography and Physics Outstanding Scholarship in English An NZQA Outstanding Scholar Award winner in 2024 |
7A |
| W. A. D. Caird | 91.6% 4 Scholarships |
Amnesty International Scholarships in Calculus, Chemistry, French and Statistics |
7A |
| A. K. Baker | 91% 4 Scholarships |
Chronicle Committee Scholarships in English, French, Geography and Religious Studies High Achievement in Cambridge A Level French |
Political Science at a university in the United Kingdom |
| C. Pan | 92% 3 Scholarships with 1 Outstanding |
Amnesty International Scholarships in Physics and Statistics Outstanding Scholarship in Calculus |
7A |
| M. C. McKee | 89.8% 3 Scholarships |
Amnesty International Scholarships in English, Physics and Statistics |
7A |