The 2025 Academic Honours Dinner, with guest speaker the Chancellor of the University of Sydney, David Thodey AO FTSE, celebrated the impressive academic results of 2024.
The event was held in the College’s Great Hall and recognised not one, but two University Medallists – an extraordinary achievement for St John’s. Julian Edwards was awarded the University Medal in Law, (to be further celebrated at the next Law Dinner) and Tom Neaverson received the University Medal in the Bachelor of Engineering (Mechatronics). Both students deserve huge congratulations for their outstanding achievements.
Also, over half the College achieved a High Distinction or Distinction average. In fact, 22 students at St John’s College achieved a High Distinction average, and a further 132 maintained a Distinction average. This means that 57% of our student cohort is performing at a Distinction or High Distinction level – an outstanding academic achievement for a college of our size, and a result that surpasses last year’s performance.
The Senior Tutor of St John’s, The Honourable John Sackar AM KC, announced the award winners, with presentations made by the Chancellor, assisted by our Academic Deans, Lucas Perrignon and Noah Coomas.
Lachlan Harris, a second-year Commerce student and recipient of the prestigious 2024 Dick & Jenny Laffan Scholarship, achieved the highest Weighted Average Mark (WAM) at the College in 2024, with an outstanding score of 91. Two years ago, Lachlan made history by topping the state in HSC Chemistry, Physics, and Mathematics – an unprecedented accomplishment in recent memory.
Close behind was second-year Bachelor of Science/Doctor of Medicine student Roberto Pennington, who secured second place with an impressive WAM of 90.
Other Distinguished guests were also present night which included:
- Prof Joanne Wright, Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Education), at the University
- Bishop Tony Percy, Auxiliary bishop of Sydney
- Justice Robertson Wright, Judge of the Supreme Court of NSW
- Judge Gerard Phillips, President of the Personal Injury Commission
- The Honourable Susan Carter MLC, Shadow Assistant Attorney General, and Member of the Legislative Council of New South Wales.
- Mr Paul Dellow, President of the St John’s College Alumni Association.
- Members of the Scholarship Committee, including Mr Des Kennedy SC and Mr Roger Williams OAM
- Professor Bernadette Tobin, Former Chair of St John’s College Council
- Mr John Coorey, Current Chair of St John’s College Council, and Benefactors or relatives of our College’s endowed scholarships, including Dick and Jenny Laffan, Danny Eid, Dr Andrew Richards, Dr Brian and Gwen Morgan, Denise Playoust, Mary-Lou Potts, Steve and Sue Anthony, Phil O’ Hara and Andrew Coorey.
The Chancellor was introduced by Greta Perrignon, Student Club Treasurer, who delivered a litany of the Chancellor’s many magnificent achievements.
The Chancellor then addressed the students, staff and guests on his professional life and the will to do well.
The Vote of Thanks was delivered by third-year student and Rawson Cup Secretary, Bryn Edwards:
At the end of the day, we are sons and daughters of the University. While all the colleges at this university are wonderful in their own right, we at St John’s are proud to be one of the few that enrol exclusively from the University of Sydney. What does that say about us? It says that we are fully committed to the University – not just in name, but in spirit, in scholarship, and in community.
This commitment is something our community takes seriously, reflected in the remarkable academic success we have achieved in recent years. From outstanding individual performances to the strength of our collective results, the College is experiencing one of its most successful academic periods, and this momentum continues to inspire us to aim even higher.
Other distinguished prizes included:
The Fr Meurer Prize for excellence in First Year awarded to: William Mandeno
The University of Sydney Physics Foundation Prize awarded to the University student who achieves First Place in Physics in their Senior Year: Mitchell Spanner
The Professor David Fraser Prize awarded to the College student who achieves the highest WAM in Veterinary Science: Ryan Woolnough
The Professor Bernadette Tobin Prize awarded to the College student who achieves the highest WAM in a Music degree at the University: Mairead McCaughan
The Bannerman Prize for First Year Chemistry in memory of James Patrick Bannerman, a student at the College from 1988 to 1991: Denis Wood
The Peace Stone Prize established through the generous donations of the Shuyodan Hoseikai Foundation: Charlie Bull
The Angus Wilson Prize for Economics awarded to the College student who achieves the highest mark in First Year Macroeconomics: Zoe Boland
The Professor David Celermajer AO Prize awarded to the College awarded to the student who achieves the highest WAM in first year Medicine or Medical Science: Victoria Jagusch
The J G Dalley Prize for proficiency in any subject not being a religious one: Ava Sullivan
The Higgins Prize for History awarded to a student with the best result in a first-year History subject: Nestor Peña Gonzalez
The John D’Arcy Prize for Excellence in English established by friends of John D’Arcy to be awarded for excellence in English: Joseph Denman
The Judith Williams Trophy for leadership and community leadership by a female resident: Lauren Whiting
We also congratulate the next top 15 students for their WAM:
Johnny Ross with a WAM of 90 a Bachelor of Commerce/Bachelor of Advanced Studies
Will Gunns with a WAM of 89 and first place in the College for Aeronautical Engineering.
Victoria Jagusch with a WAM of 89 in the Bachelor of Science (Medical Science)
Ryan Woolnough with a WAM of 88 in the Bachelor of Veterinary Biology/Doctor of Veterinary Medicine
Esther Liu with a WAM of 88 in the Bachelor of Science/Doctor of Medicine
Elize Haire with a WAM of 88 in the Bachelor of Applied Science (Occupational Therapy)
Fiara Augustin with a WAM of 87 in the Bachelor of Arts/Bachelor of Laws
Mitchell Spanner with a WAM of 87 in the Bachelor of Science and Bachelor of Advanced Studies
Tom Hughes with a WAM of 87 in the Bachelor of Advanced Computing
Will Mandeno with a WAM of 87 in Bachelor of Engineering (Software Engineering) & Bachelor of Commerce
William Ross with a WAM of 87 in the Bachelor of Commerce
Amanda Dobles with a WAM of 86 in the Bachelor of Science (Medical Science)
Daniel Maynard with a WAM of 86 in the Bachelor of Engineering Honours (Mechatronic Engineering) and Bachelor of Commerce
Ewen McBean with a WAM of 85 in the Bachelor of Engineering Honours (Mechatronic Engineering) and Bachelor of Science
Caitlyn Lee with a WAM of 85 in the Bachelor of Commerce and Bachelor of Advanced Studies
May I offer my warmest congratulations on behalf of the Council, staff, and students of St John’s College to all those who have achieved outstanding academic success in 2024.
I especially commend the students who have excelled in individual disciplines – your results reflect not only personal commitment but also a genuine pursuit of excellence.
Your achievements continue to affirm the strength of our academic community and uphold the University of Sydney’s reputation as one of the nation’s premier institutions of higher learning.
Dr Mark Schembri
Rector
