Twenty-five students from Sydney's Catholic school system were congratulated by Carmel Tebbutt, NSW Minister for Education, for All-round Excellence in the 2006 Higher School Certificate (HSC) at the Sydney Convention Centre yesterday.

The successful students were among some 800 across NSW to receive the Premier's Award in recognition of their outstanding performance in the HSC.

Each year, the award is given to students who achieve a mark of 90 per cent or greater in 10 or more units.  

At the awards ceremony, Br Kelvin Canavan, Executive Director of Schools, said that
Sydney's Catholic systemic schools were celebrating one of their most successful HSC years.

Fourteen Catholic systemic schools had students in the NSW top all-rounders' list. St Ursula's College, Kingsgrove was the highest performing school in this category with six students.

Two students also topped the state in a HSC course subject. Adam Dundovic from De La Salle College, Cronulla and Pamela Anjoul from Trinity Catholic College, Auburn gained first place in Business Studies and Retail Operations Examination respectively.

Br Kelvin added that 68 per cent of all Sydney Catholic schools recorded better results than for the past three years.  

2006 HSC Premier's Awards recipients  

Alisa Lam, All Saints Catholic Senior College, Casula
Romeo Torres Jr, All Saints Catholic Senior College, Casula
Ashleigh Fitzgerald, Aquinas College, Menai
Jessica Egan, Brigidine College, Randwick
Sarah Galea, Brigidine College, Randwick
Christina Glitsos, Brigidine College, Randwick
Adam Dundovic, De La Salle College, Cronulla
Lauren Arena, Freeman Catholic College, Bonnyrigg Heights
Joseph Assad, Holy Spirit College, Lakemba
Noppol Dhungsirisetagun, Marist College, Eastwood
Dereck Thamrak, Marist College, Eastwood
Jack Horder, Marist College, Kogarah
Emma Argaet, Marist Sisters' College, Woolwich
Emma-Lee Luketic, Mary MacKillop College, Wakeley
Lisa Cantlon, Our Lady of the Sacred Heart College, Kensington
Yuliya Lutsyk, Our Lady of the Sacred Heart College, Kensington
Claresta Soesanto, Our Lady of the Sacred Heart College, Kensington
Michael Last, St Patrick's College, Sutherland  
Caroline Boateng, St Ursula's College, Kingsgrove
Vanessa Faddoul, St Ursula's College, Kingsgrove
Stephanie Hulewicz, St Ursula's College, Kingsgrove
Katrina Li, St Ursula's College, Kingsgrove
Susan Macpherson, St Ursula's College, Kingsgrove
Ciaran Williams, St Ursula's College, Kingsgrove
Linda Trieu, Trinity Catholic College, Auburn