A record $550,000 worth of scholarships have been offered to top students in Whakatāne High School’s year 13 cohort this year.

“We have exceeded the amount awarded in previous years,” said Head of Careers Jo-Anne Stuart.

Ms Stuart said the school was incredibly proud of its high-achieving students.

“The universities have been generous with their scholarship offers to our students this year.”

Alongside this milestone achievement, the school celebrated its top academic honours for 2025: Riley Rutter was named Dux, with Jayden Hartley de Gouveia awarded Proxime Accessit.

Riley said it was an honour to earn the title.

“A lot of weekends spent catching up on assignments.” he said of his studies.

Riley plans to study a Bachelor of Science in Mathematics and Computer Science at the University of Canterbury, by which he has been awarded an Outstanding Impact Scholarship. He credited his computer science teacher, Niall Pearce, as a key influence.

“I’ve had a lot of help from teachers over the years, but Mr Pearce, really inspired me with what I want to do.”

Riley’s senior year has been packed with academic challenges – from physics and chemistry to university-level papers in mathematics and computer science – as well as scholarship exams in physics, calculus, and digital technology.

Among his highlights were a Year 10 hiking trip, launching rockets in Year 12 mechatronics, and competing in YES and EPro8 challenges.

Proxime Accessit Jayden says he is “pretty happy” to receive recognition for his efforts.

“I’ve just kept chugging along and just grinded the work out.”

Jayden plans to pursue Health Science at the University of Otago, supported by a Vice-Chancellor’s Scholarship, and hopes to progress into the medical programme.

He expressed gratitude to his teachers and parents for their ongoing encouragement.

“All of my teachers have supported me academically, but I appreciate the support from my parents in all the other stuff as well,” Jayden said.

Jayden’s subjects this year included economics, physics, biology, and English, alongside a university mathematics paper and scholarship exams in physics, calculus, and geography.

Reflecting on his final year, he said it was one of “making memories and spending time with everyone – you’re only young once.”