As Janke van Dyk, the top matriculant for 2017 prepared for her first day at university, her school, Hoërskool Bellville had a final celebration for her last week.
The 18-year-old, obtained distinctions in all of her eight subjects, with 100% in accounting, 99% in maths, 98% each in physical science, English and life sciences, and 97% in Afrikaans. She will study chemical engineering at Stellenbosch University.
Second place went to Matthys Carstens, from Hoërskool Durbanville, who will be studying a BCom Actuarial Science at Stellenbosch University.
Hoërskool Bellville maintained its 100% pass rate from the previous year.
Principal Gideon du Plessis said he could not keep up with all the congratulatory messages streaming in.
He said parents, ex-pupils and staff from other schools had all sent messages. They even received messages from people in Pretoria, Johannesburg and Robertson.
Janke was the second pupil from Hoërskool Bellville to be named the top matriculant.
Jaanri Brugman achieved this in 2005 and was at the function on Tuesday January 23, to celebrate with Janke. Mr Du Plessis said this had helped to place the school on the map but all praise had to go to Janke for her hard work and determination.
“This was all Janke and it has been wonderful to experience it with her,” he said.
Bennie Schereka, director for the Metro East Education District, said the school could be proud of its 2017 matric results, with 187 Bachelor passes. He said it would give pupils something to strive for and to try and improve on the result.
“These results will be hard to improve on, but with the right motivation they could pull it off,” he said.
Mr Schereka said Janke’s achievement was the culmination of hard work that had not started in Grade 12 but from her early school days.
He thanked her parents for their support and motivation, saying partnerships with parents were important for any school to succeed.