For thousands of South Australian families, results day is marked by tense moments gathered around laptops, followed by shock, elation or disbelief as final scores appear on screen.
On Monday, December 15, that moment arrived for around 17,100 South Australian school leavers, with their SACE results and university entry scores officially released.
At the very top of the cohort is Blackfriars Priory School dux Luke Tsavdaridis, who achieved a perfect ATAR of 99.95 and three subject Merits, placing him among the state’s highest-achieving students for 2025.
The Australian Tertiary Admission Rank (ATAR) compares a student’s performance against others in their cohort, expressed as a numerical value capped at 99.95. While widely acknowledged as “just a number,” for many students it remains a key gateway to university pathways and future study options.
Luke’s exceptional result included Merits in Chemistry, Physics, and Spiritualities, Religion and Meaning – an achievement he said left him “out of words.”
“I’m just grateful for all the help I’ve had during my time here at Blackfriars,” Luke said.
The aspiring Dentistry student urged future Year 12 students to persist through the challenges of their final year. “Don’t give up, no matter how hard it gets. And it will get hard, it will get really hard. Just stick with it, ask for help and you’ll get there.”
Beyond academic scores, students across South Australia have also been recognised for leadership, service and resilience.
Despite the cancellation of a scheduled ceremony following Sunday’s tragic events in Bondi, 40 Year 12 students were named recipients of a Governor of South Australia Commendation. The awards recognise students who balanced strong academic performance with meaningful community contribution, including mental health advocacy, volunteering in aged care and leadership in sport and service.
Governor Frances Adamson said the recipients were “both academically accomplished and have contributed meaningfully to their communities”. Students were nominated by their schools and assessed by an expert panel, with formal presentations to be held at Government House in February.
Among the recipients is Olivia Giotis, captain of the South Australian tennis team, who represented the state nationally and internationally while serving as a Student Council member and Peer Mentor. She achieved A and A+ grades across all Year 12 subjects, earned a High Distinction in university-level Forensic Science, and received multiple leadership and service awards.
Other schools have also celebrated standout results, including Trinity College student Jaxon Zavalis, who achieved an ATAR of 98.35, and Walford student Eleni Maios who achieved an ATAR of 99.25.
*Please note: The above students are those The Greek Herald could identify by their Greek name. If you believe you should be in this article, please send an email to info@foreignlanguage.com.au.
