In their 75th year, Bowral High School students have taken their motto, Excelsior, to new heights by not allowing gender stereotypes to stand in their way.
Bowral High School Dux, Amy Masters showed that girls could excel in anything they set their mind to, including science and maths.
Amy gained a top 20 "best in subject" ranking in Chemistry, out of 10,158 students.
She also gained top rankings in Physics, Maths and Maths Extension, English Advanced and Extension.
"Amy now has the world at her feet, not limited by the societal restrictions that many of us grew up with due to our gender," school principal Kathryn Brennan said.
"She is a thoughtful and determined young woman, who has worked very, very hard to achieve exceptional outcomes: academic, sporting, leadership and service to the community."
Amy dedicated her top result, including a Universities Admission Index (UAI) of 99.45, to the support of her friends, family and teachers.
"I never dreamt I would be given the opportunity to study vet science, however, now that it's a possibility, tertiary study really excites me," she said.
"I hope that this achievement will be a powerful indicator to parents of the Southern Highlands that it is irrelevant whether a student learns in a public or private school environment, provided they are dedicated to their academic career."
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