James Hargest College pupils Ruby, James and Sean Bath, all 18, have each received an ILT Tertiary Scholarship, picking up financial support of $2000 each per year for three years.
The high achievers said their success was down to them sharing a strong drive in getting their work done.
"I think it comes under work ethic I guess, like we share the same morals so we’re all pretty driven and we support each other too so that’s sort of like a bit of a driving force," Sean said.
Ruby said they kept each other accountable and made sure each other was putting their best foot forward.
They all agreed their work ethic came from their parents, Doug and Natalie Bath, who never held any expectations for them but always pushed them to try their best.
All three are interested in different fields: Ruby is planning to studying law at the University of Otago next year, James is going to study engineering at the University of Canterbury and Sean is going to study health science at the University of Otago.
They all get along with each other and this will be the first time the triplets will be living in separate towns.
"While we are excited about going to university in separate towns next year, we have mixed feelings and we are sure we will miss each other," Ruby said.
In terms of preparation, Ruby is a little more thorough than the boys.
"I feel like Ruby has breakfast pre-made from the night before, she has like some overnight oats or something and James and I will just slap something together on our way out.
"We’re in Ruby’s room and as I’m sitting here talking to you, I’m looking at her litany of big A3 pages pasted on her door and wall with mind maps of every topic she's learnt this year, and it looks like she's solving the Zodiac murder mystery."
An ILT spokeswomen said the triplets were independently assessed and awarded on their own merit. More than 60 other pupils from Southland schools were also awarded an ILT Tertiary Scholarship.
Each pupil was interviewed by a panel adjudicators, and assessed independently across a range of criteria, including their grades, community commitment and future ambition.
