Scholars' Assembly2008’s top achievers were honoured at the third annual Scholars’ Assembly on Friday March 13. Students who gained individual subject scholarships, the top three students in each of the three senior years, and those gaining Merit and Excellence endorsements on their NCEA certificates all received awards.

 28 Rutherford students gained NCEA Level 1 endorsed with Merit in 2008, up from 19 in 2007. Seven gained Level 1 endorsed with Excellence, up from four in 2007.

18 students gained Level 2 endorsed with Merit, and three gained Level 2 endorsed with Excellence. 19 students gained Level 3 endorsed with Merit, up from nine in 2007. Three students gained Level 3 endorsed with Excellence: John Kim, Dux Artium 2008 Aonghas Anderson, and Craig Robertson, a Year 12 student.

Rutherford students gained 17 individual subject scholarships, including four in the outstanding category. Two of the successful scholarship candidates were Year 12 students.

The top scholars in each year level are calculated by the percentage of excellence grades gained in a year. Third place in each year level received $150, second place $250 and first place $500.

In Year 11, Tim Chen placed third, Michele Lee second and Faber Edwards first. In four of Faber’s 2008 subjects, more than half his credits were Excellence grades.

In Year 12, Becky Li placed third, Sophie Li second and Craig Robertson first. Craig gained Level 3 endorsed with Excellence as well as an Outstanding Scholarship in Media Studies, a fantastic achievement for a Year 12 student.

In Year 13, John Kim placed third, Proximae Accessit and 2008 Head Girl Rose He placed third, and Dux Litterarum and 2008 Head Boy Luke Sizer placed first. Both Rose and Luke gained Level 3 endorsed with Excellence in 2007 as Year 12 Students.

Special guests Mr Ken Rapson of Auckland University and MP for Te Atatu Mr Chris Carter presented many of the awards. The assembly was also attended by local principals and members of the Board of Trustees. The school choir performed The Rutherford Way, and Toby King (Y13) sang an excerpt from a Handel oratorio accompanied by Ji Eun Kwon (Y13). Mrs Manu Faaea-Semeatu sang her own version of I’m a Believer, called I’m an Achiever.

Attached are the full lists of scholars and the lyrics to Mrs Faaea-Semeatu's song.