Inspiration, determination and hard work was personified on Wednesday 18 February as boys, staff, parents and members of the Newington community gathered in Centenary Hall to welcome back and celebrate our top academic achievers from the Class of 2014.

With three IB Perfect Score recipients, 10 HSC All Rounder ‘Premier’s Award’ Recipients, 18 students who achieved 99 or above and 14 students receiving nominations with five inclusions in the HSC showcase exhibitions INTECH, ARTEXPRESS and ENCORE, the stage was quickly filled with proud Newingtonians.

Erol Gorur (ON 2014), Michael Gribble (ON 2014) and Matthew Han (ON 2014) were among the last to take their position on the stage as they were named joint winners of the Hardy Medal having each achieved the Perfect IB Diploma score of 45/45, equating to an ATAR of 99.95.

However, they were not the only recipients of the elusive Perfect Score in the room. Traditionally, the Year 12 Dux of the current graduating cohort returns to address the school at the Academic Excellence Assembly each year. Often they will either shed light on their study and experience after they left school or offer some words of advice for those about to embark on life beyond College gates. This year’s guest speaker was Ben Adler (ON 2009), the first and other Newingtonian to have achieved an IB perfect score of 45 in the room. He is currently a student at the Sydney Conservatorium of Music.

Ben gave a tour de force speech mixing self deprecating humour and introspection with philosophy and a call to action. He began his address reminiscing about his final year at Newington.

“Twelve months before my final exams, I put up two sheets of paper on the wall above my desk. On one was the number 45. And on the other were the words ‘I am the author of my life’. Which means, with every choice we make, we are writing a book, and the point is to try to write a book that we would be proud to read,”  he said.

However, getting good marks did not sum up the whole story. He said for him leading a good life is not that different to getting good marks because it’s about being accountable, taking responsibility and having the courage to empathise and stand up against dangerous stereotypes.

“These days, I ask myself questions first asked by a rabbi 2,000 years ago – ‘If not me, who? And if not now, when?’ This is exactly what Ghandi meant when he said “be the change you want to see in the world.”

To read Ben Adler’s full speech, please visit SPACES.