Kaikorai Valley College’s 2017 dux, Louie Bernhardt, won an outstanding scholar award and former King’s High School pupil Max Beal won the top subject scholarship award for gaining the top mark in the New Zealand scholarship drama examination.
Louie gained scholarships in statistics and physics, outstanding scholarships in calculus and chemistry, and was the only candidate from an Otago school to win an outstanding scholar award.
The 18-year-old said he was not normally one to get excited about academic awards but he was "pretty stoked" about this one.
"This is really what I was working towards for all of last year.
"I really enjoyed working towards it. It was much more challenging that what I had done at school previously.
"It was quite exhilarating and it made it feel even better when I got this result."
This year he is studying mathematics at the University of Otago.
"My dream job will be something I can use my maths, physics or chemistry skills in."
Max was equally delighted after being named a 2017 top subject scholarship award winner for gaining the top mark in the scholarship drama exam. The 18-year-old will be among 35 top subject scholarship award winners who will be officially presented with their awards during a ceremony at Parliament later this year.
Rather than attend university this year, Max is working fulltime to raise money to pursue his acting dreams.
Late last year, he was one of 24 young New Zealanders selected by the Shakespeare Globe Centre to go to the Globe Theatre in London this July.
He said there was no greater honour for lovers of Shakespearean theatre than to tread the boards of the Globe Theatre, but it was an expensive trip he had to fund out of his own pocket.
He is also planning to study performing arts in Brisbane next year.
"Musical theatre is a very competitive world, but if I get into Australia, that will open so many doors for an acting career.
"It’s a very exciting time for me."
