Celebrating the end of the academic year is always a momentous occasion at St Mark’s College. The St Mark’s College Final Service and Dinner was held on Saturday 26th October 2019 to celebrate our students’ academic, sporting and leadership achievements, announce the student leaders for 2020 and celebrate the students who will soon graduate.
The evening commenced with students, parents, staff and Old Collegians attending the Final Service at St Peter’s Cathedral. The College Chaplin, Reverend Grant Moore, gave a sermon asking us to reflect on the year that had been and issued a call to action to our students to utilise their university learnings and experience to actively engage in helping resolve some of the issues society faces. He said “As Simon Collins says, no institutions play a bigger part in the socio-economic future-proofing of human society than universities. That’s where tomorrow’s scientific breakthroughs are incubated. And who knows what they will be? Their embryonic templates lie buried in you – as yet undiscovered – hidden among the unique talents with which you’ve been blessed. In the final analysis, your life is God’s precious gift to you. What you do with it, is your gift to the rest of us, to humankind in general, and in the end, to God. ” To read the full sermon, click here.
Following the service, students enjoyed pre-dinner drinks with guests in the Walkley Gardens before entering the Grenfell Price Dining Hall for the Final Dinner.
Final Dinner is always filled with both happy and sad moments, as students reflect on the year and their time at St Mark’s, and as we farewell those who are leaving St Mark’s College. It is also a time for celebration as we acknowledge the outstanding student achievements over the past year.
To commence the night’s proceedings, first-year Bachelor of Environmental Science at University of South Australia student and Wiradjuri woman, Ms Iman Westhead, gave the Acknowledgement of Country, followed by the Acting Head of College, Mr Darren Pitt, providing the Welcome Address.
The 2019 College Club President and fourth-year Bachelor of Teaching/Bachelor of Arts University of Adelaide student, Ms Evette de Jager, welcomed back the previous Master of St Mark’s College, Ms Rose Alwyn, and presented her with a gift from the College Club.
The College Club President-elect for 2020, Mr Nicholas Marzohl, a second-year Bachelor of Psychology student at the University of South Australia, raised a toast to those leaving College saying “Leaving College is a hard thing to do, but to you leavers, I know with the experiences and memories, not to mention the friends and connections you have made here at St Mark’s College, you are ready for anything that gets thrown at you. Leavers, you will always be a part of the St Mark’s College community”.
Ms Lucinda Bunge, third-year Bachelor of Physiotherapy student at the University of South Australia, and Mr Mitchell Olive, fourth-year Bachelor of Commerce (International Business) and Bachelor of Business (Corporate Finance) student at the University of Adelaide, provided a passionate leaver’s response, reminding students that “Once you step through the gates of St Mark’s College on your first day, you are not just a Collegian for your time here, you are a Marksman or a Markswoman for life. The friends and connections you make here in this very short period of your life will stay with you forever. These years are the most formative of your life. During these years we have learned some valuable lessons about resilience, how to be more independent, successful communication skills, but most importantly, how to be a genuinely good person, which is what all Marksmen and Markswomen are. Never doubt yourselves, Collegians, for we know we are all going places in life, great places.”
Ms Evette de Jager raised a toast to the College and Dr Areti Metuamate, the Dean of St Mark’s responded on behalf of the College and quoted JK Rowling as he called for students to think about the role they play as leaders in their communities: “If you choose to use your status and influence to raise your voice on behalf of those who have no voice; if you choose to identify not only with the powerful but with the powerless; if you retain the ability to imagine yourself into the lives of those who do not have your advantages, then it will not only be your proud families who celebrate your existence but thousands and millions of people whose reality you have helped transform for the better. We do not need magic to change the world, we carry all the power we need inside ourselves already: we have the power to imagine better.”
The celebrations continued as the 2020 student appointed and elected leadership team members were announced, and as the academic, sporting, excellence and leavers awards were presented to students.
Congratulations to all students for the 2019 academic year, a College is little without the contribution and passion of our students. St Mark’s truly is a place you belong for life.
2019 Award Recipients
Collegian’s Prize
Presented by Mr Jack Dowd (alum 2014-2016) on behalf of the Old Collegian’s Association to the student whose contribution to College, their studies, their university, and community are recognised by their peers as being outstanding.
| Lucinda Bunge |
Service Colours
Awarded by the Dean to students who have given an outstanding contribution to the College.
| Taylor Hand |
| Evette de Jager |
| Thomas Edney |
| Renae Feder |
Values colours
Awarded by the Dean to students recognising students who epitomise the Values of the College.
| Benjamin Jenner |
| Nicholette Bakaj |
| Chelsea Hammond |
| Bronte Phillips |
Academic Colours & Commendations
Ms Kathy Radoslovich, the Director of Learning, Dr Layla Mahdi St Mark’s Scholar in Residence and Dr Jessa Rogers, presented the Academic Colours to the highest achieving student in their year level. Commendations are awarded to exceptional academic achievers.
2019 Overall Academic Colours
| Alasdair Leslie |
Academic Colours & Commendations
| Year | Award | Studnet |
| 4th Year | Colours | Callum Kain |
| Commendations | Nicholette Bakaj, Benjamin Cmrlec, Alexandra Kenny, Brady Martin | |
| 3rd Year | Colours | Madeleine Whitehouse |
| Commendations | Lucinda Bunge, Ella Graham, Molly Healy, Eliza Kennedy | |
| 2nd Year | Colours | Isaac Montefiore |
| Commendations | Danielle Boniface, Benjamin Joy, Olivia Watt | |
| 1st Year | Colours | Kaitlin Beltakis, Ella Browne, Wren Dreger, Hamish Hill |
| Commendations | Brodie Carrigan, Niamh Jones, Gemma Nunn, Amelia Youngman |
The Sports awards and Colours were presented by the Sports Officers, Ms Renae Feder and Mr Riley Glynn.
Female Athlete of the Year: Isobel McFarlane
Male Athlete of the Year: Benjamin Pater
Sporting and Arts College Club Colours
| Sport | 1st Student | 2nd Student |
| Tennis | Tessa Megaw | Hugo Lee |
| Swimming | Erin Roberts | James Andrews |
| Debating | Annie Brentnall | Mitchell Paull |
| Netball | Maddy Crettenden | Benjamin Pater |
| Hockey | Lucinda Bunge | Lachlan Clark |
| Football | Erin Roberts | Blake Dodson |
| Volleyball | Isobel McFarlane | Benjamin Pater |
| Basketball | Bronte Phillips | Sean Ambrose |
| Soccer | Jenna Enge | Lukas Egger |
| Table Tennis | Tessa Megaw | Riley Glynn |
| Athletics | Izzy McFarlane | Liam McMaugh |
| Boat Racing | Georgie Kotz | Mitchell Olive |
| Arts Evening | Sonny Puglisi | |
| College Revue | Nicola Badran | Eliza Kennedy |
| Fresher of the year | Kaidy Morgan | Daniel Robson |
2019 Graduating Students
| Student | Degree |
| Ms Nicholette Bakaj | B. Science |
| Mr Harrison Baker | B. GSC |
| Ms Hannah Bradshaw | B. Arts (Advertising) |
| Mr Ryan Casey | B. Music (Music Performance –Jazz) |
| Mr Benjamin Cmrlec | B. Engineering (Mech)(Hons) |
| Ms Evette de Jager | B. Teaching |
| Mr Thomas Edney | B. Commerce |
| Ms Sarina Ferguson | B. Laws |
| Mr Matthew Halligan | B. Arts |
| Jacob, Mr Mostyn | B. Media Arts (Film, TV & CGI) |
| Jealous, Mr Peter | B. Agricultural Sciences |
| Kain, Mr Callum | B. Science |
| Ms Alexandra Kenny | B. Commerce |
| Mr Billy King | B. Human Movement |
| Mr Chad Lennon | B. Health and Medical Sciences |
| Mr Brady Martin | B. Engineering (Electrical and Electronic) (Hon) |
| Mr Ryan Morrow | B. Health and Medical Sciences |
| Mr Mitchell Olive | B. Commerce |
| Mr Benjamin Pater | B. Human Movement |
| Ms Yardley Smeaton | B. Creative Arts (Screen) |
| Mr Henry To | B. Architectural Design |
| Mr Andrew Vogelsang | B. Economics |
| Mr Charles Westwell | B. Science(Biomedical Science) |
| Ms Madeleine Whitehouse | B. Health Science |
| Ms Meekah Zangari | B. Physiotherapy |
St Mark’s College offers many opportunities for students to pursue their passions for sport, art, music or drama. For more information click here.
