On Monday 17 August, the Merici College community gathered to congratulate and celebrate students who have a high level of academic achievement across all subjects and students who were recognised by their teachers in individual subjects in Semester 1. Year 7 students received awards for the first time which always brings some extra excitement.
The pinnacle of Merici’s Principles of Powerful Learning is Academic Excellence which assists our girls to build successful futures. Yesterday, we recognised students whose efforts have led to personal levels of Academic Excellence, as well as being role models to other students.
The awards fell into two categories:
Academic Excellence and Outstanding Effort within individual classes. Teachers nominated students for Outstanding Effort awards while Academic Excellence awards in each subject are decided by the top ranked students in each course.
We also awarded special certificates of Credit, Distinction and High Distinction to those students whose academic achievement has been excellent across all of their subjects.
It has become tradition that at our Semester 2 awards ceremonies, that we announce the senior scholarships recipients for Year 11 and 12.
We extend our congratulations to the following Year 10 students:
Merici College Sporting scholarship. This scholarship is awarded to a student for high level representation across one or more areas of sport, which could be within or outside the school. Awarded to Mackenzie Singers.
The Melissa van Poppel Scholarship is awarded to a student who pursues Science and the Duke of Edinburgh Scheme. Students also must have selected a senior Science course to be eligible. Awarded to Zara Hillman.
The Kath Pentony Scholarship is awarded to a student for high level achievement and application in Mathematics. The successful student also needs to have selected to study a high level of Mathematics in Years 11 and 12. Awarded to Mia Billups.
The St Ursula Scholarship is for study and achievement in the area of languages or the Arts. The successful recipient also needs to have selected to study one or more courses in these areas for Years 11 and 12. Awarded to Evelyn Bewley
Board Scholarships cover part tuition across the college years. These are awarded to students who show high achievement and dedication to studies throughout Years 9 & 10. Awarded to Ashlyn Edghill, Harriet Bell and Edie Roff
Our next scholarships are our Full Board Scholarships. These awards cover full tuition as the students have displayed outstanding academic achievement and community involvement in Years 7-10. The Full Board Scholarships, cover these students’ school and general fees for 2027/2028. The recipients of this scholarship are Therese Brooker and Sienna Stefopoulos.
Our community had great pleasure in welcoming ex-student Chloe Lincoln as our guest speaker. Since leaving school Chloe has been immersed in football across the globe playing in snow in Uzbekistan, leading to a bronze medal at the U20 Asian Cup defeating Korea in that match, which then led to her 2nd U20 World Cup where Chloe played against host nation Columbia in front of a capacity stadium of 40,000 people in the Capital City of Bogata.
At 19 years of age Chloe won the ASEAN Cup for the Matilda’s U23s in Vietnam in front of huge parochial crowds, and later that year she went on to make her debut for the Matilda’s.
Since that time Chloe has been a member of the Matilda’s squad and was lucky enough to start for the Matilda’s in the Opening Game of the ASIAN Cup in Perth where they defeated the Phillipines 2-0.
At the same time Chloe has been immersed in the A League and is currently the no. 1 keeper for Brisbane Roar and is completing a Bachelor of Business through the University of Canberra online.
Chloe congratulated the students receiving academic awards, reminding them that behind every achievement is hard work, challenges, self-doubt and the decision to keep going.
She reflected on her time at Merici, where she arrived in Year 10 after moving to Canberra from Armidale. Despite her sometimes less-than-perfect attendance and late starts, Merici supported her dream of pursuing football. She went on to sign with Canberra United at 16 and play for the Young Matildas, eventually travelling internationally and representing Australia.
Her first message was about embracing change. Chloe shared her experience of leaving home at just 14 to attend boarding school in Sydney to pursue football. Initially, she struggled enormously and even called her mum crying from a bus, wanting to come home. Her mum encouraged her to simply take the next step. Over time, Chloe adjusted, made lifelong friendships and became more independent. She learned that courage isn’t about feeling confident or fearless; sometimes it is simply continuing despite being afraid. She encouraged the girls to see change and uncertainty as opportunities for growth rather than signs that they are making the wrong decision.
Her second message was about balance. Chloe explained that when she moved to Melbourne to play professional football, she made football her entire life and deferred university. When her football performance and confidence declined, she realised that because football had become her whole identity, every setback felt like a personal failure. Returning to university helped restore perspective and reminded her that she was a whole person, not simply a footballer. She encouraged the girls to have different things in their lives that bring them joy, purpose and fulfilment, whether that is sport, study, friends, family, music or even small everyday routines.
Her third message was about humility and self-belief. Chloe spoke about how she had sometimes confused being humble with making herself smaller. She learned, particularly through watching footballer Michelle Heyman, that it is possible to be grounded, respectful and kind while also confidently recognising your own abilities and worth. She encouraged the girls to understand that confidence is knowing your worth, while arrogance is believing your worth makes you more important than others. Whether in friendships, academics or sport, she encouraged them to accept feedback, recognise their strengths and confidently say, “I worked hard for this, and I deserve to be here.”
Chloe concluded by encouraging the students to embrace change, maintain balance, and most importantly, back themselves. She reminded them that while Merici provides wonderful opportunities, it is the students themselves who make the school special, and she encouraged them to be proud of their achievements because they had earned their moment.
In essence, Chloe’s message was: Be brave enough to embrace change, make time for the things that keep you grounded, and believe in yourself without losing your humility.
We sincerely thank Chloe for sharing her story and these wonderful words of wisdom with our students. We wish Chloe continued success in all that she does and look forward to following her journey in the years ahead.
