Success beyond school

For many years statistics and anecdotal evidence have told of the success that the vast majority of Howick College students have in study and careers beyond school. Here we feature students who have achieved highly in a variety of areas who have achieved highly in a variety of areas.

Jessica Mutch

completed Year 13 in 2001 already knowing that she wanted to be a reporter
graduated Bachelor of Communication Studies majoring in Journalism, and Graduate Diploma in Public Relations from Auckland University of Technology
gained valuable work experience while studying by working for the Howick and Pakuranga Times, TV3, Next Magazine, Newstalk ZB and the Northern Advocate
currently employed as a Television journalist for Prime News based in Parliament in Wellington

“Howick College offered me a lot of opportunities to hone my drama and presentation skills. It also offered me leadership opportunities which was a great chance to push myself and see what I was capable of as a school leader. Things like speech competitions, dragon boating, theatresports competition, leadership camps, mentoring and cricket teams were all opportunities I chose to take up”.

Blair Gardner

completed Year 13 in 2001
graduated Bachelor of Engineering (Hons) – Chemicals and Materials, University of Auckland
currently employed at Santos , Australia ’s largest onshore oil and gas producer as a reservoir engineer. Blair works in collaboration with geo-science, drilling, petroleum engineering and field engineering groups to develop update and implement optimum development plans for a reservoir or field.

“Howick College provided me with a fine education, the chance to develop my leadership and teamwork skills, and some great mates all in an easy-going, down-to-earth atmosphere”.

Benson Chen

awarded Scholarships in Statistics and Modeling, Classical Studies, Biology and Technology in final year of College (2005)
currently enrolled in Year One of Bachelor of Health Sciences as an overlap year for Medicine
awarded a Royal Society Gold Crest Award for a project developing natural pharmaceutical products from native plants. Benson is still investigating whether these products will be commercially produced
assisting with the Royal Society National Science Fair “Realise the Dream” for the third year – this year working with international participants
Judge for the 2006 Manukau Regional Science Fair
Chairman of the Manukau City Youth Council
member of the Manukau East Youth Council
member of Auckland Kiwanis Club

“The excellent teaching staff at Howick College as well as the state-of-the-art technology and science facilities helped me immensely in my scientific and technological pursuits which I undertook during the time I was there”.

Fraser Dodd

final year at school 2004
took up an apprenticeship in maintenance and diagnostics with MGE Engineering Ltd in Manukau
won the First Year Apprentice of the Year Award 2005 from Apprentice Training New Zealand
Ash Raju of MGE says “Fraser has proved himself day in and day out over the last year. He has a lot of questions about how everything works and how he could make it better”
Fraser attributes his success to the excellent grounding he had in Applied Trades classes at Howick College