It was a sense of accomplishment that motivated Evah Carey to work hard throughout her schooling.
The 18-year-old Waihī College student said all her hard work – this year in particular, definitely paid off.
That’s because the year 13 student, who studied history, geography, English, chemistry and statistics, recently achieved the school’s top distinction – the dux for 2025.
The award winner was very happy and “a bit surprised”, she told The Profile. “I didn’t expect it as my year group was quite competitive, so it was definitely a shock. I just remember feeling so happy and proud.”
The achievement of dux was something she “always dreamed of” but never thought she would get, the winner said.
“It means so much to me, I am extremely proud of myself.
“It will definitely help me to keep striving for academic success in my further studies.”
Her plans for 2026 are to head to Victoria University of Wellington to study a conjoint degree in business and politics.
“The full name for it is a Bachelor of Commerce/Bachelor of Arts majoring in International business and political science,” she said.
Evah received a “generous” scholarship of $1200 from the Waihī Lions Club as part of her award, she said, but also snapped up the Ruakaraka Leadership Scholarship from Victoria University of Wellington valued at $5000, and the Kathleen Adams Memorial Scholarship from Waihī College, which she said would go towards her accommodation fees.
One key motivator that helped her to work hard was the desire to make her family proud.
“They are definitely my biggest supporters.”
Her journey to success didn’t come without its challenges and commitments.
Evah said she had to manage her studies on top of working as a waitress and also her commitment to sports, such as the Waihī College A netball team.
“We would travel to Tauranga every Friday for games and ended the season at UNISS, which is the Upper North Island Secondary Schools Netball champs.”
She also coached the Year 10A netball team with a friend, was a house group leader for Amaranth and part of the Waikato Secondary Tertiary Student Advisory Group (WYSTAG) – a leadership group comprising approximately 20 students from around Waikato, she said.
“We would meet once a term to develop initiatives aimed at improving our education system.
“It was a pretty cool opportunity and allowed me to connect with other students from the area,” she said.
“It got very busy this year but it was all worth it.”
She was grateful for all the opportunities and endless support and wanted to thank all the teachers, friends and family who supported her and her goals over the years.
Evah hoped people at Waihī College remembered her as a kind and hardworking person who was always happy to help people out.
“I hope that the legacy I leave behind inspires others to put in the hard work for your goals because you are capable of so much as long as you put in the work for it.”
Meanwhile, Charlie Joyce received the Proxime Accessit to dux award.
By DAVIDDA HIKATANGATA
