To be awarded the NZ Scholarship, students are expected to show deep understanding of the subject, demonstrate high-level critical thinking and the ability to apply their understanding to complex situations.<\/p>\n
Students who achieve NZ Scholarship can receive cash awards, ranging from a one-off $500 payment for a single subject award to $10,000 per year for up to three years for premier award winners.<\/p>\n
When the email came in, informing Heslop he\u2019d come in the top 13, he was so shocked at his results that he didn\u2019t scroll down to the bottom of the email to see that he had been invited to Parliament to receive an award from the Prime Minister in April.<\/p>\n
Heslop realised there was a possibility that he could become the school\u2019s dux and score high marks on his final exams when he got his results back at the end of Year 11.<\/p>\n
\u201cI was quite impressed with my results and that\u2019s when I thought, you know, dux is a possibility if I keep working hard,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n
So he set himself the goal, which he achieved.<\/p>\n
Despite his successes, Heslop\u2019s staying humble. <\/p>\n
He claimed he was on the \u201clower end\u201d of the nation\u2019s top 13 students when asked what number he was exactly.<\/p>\n
But he puts his success down to always enjoying his time at school, working hard and getting good grades.<\/p>\n
The thing he says helped him most with his scholarship exams was the same thing that helps rugby players win games \u2013 practice.<\/p>\n