A Moss Vale student has topped a prestigious academic competition for the second time in a row.
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St Paul's International College student Jack Speerin has received the UNSW medal in the annual International Competitions and Assessments for Schools (ICAS).
Jack took out first place in the Year 8 Digital Technologies competition.
The student, who received his award at a ceremony at UNSW recently, said he was surprised to receive the medal.
"It was kind of a shock. I wasn't expecting to go as well as previous years," he said.
"In previous years the competition was conducted with a paper system. This time it was a new system through the computer.
"There was a lot more pressure because you had an actual time in front of you. You knew how much time was left."
Jack's mother Sarah said she was pleased for her son, who received the coveted medal for the second time.
"When he was in year three, he topped the state and earned the UNSW medal. This is his second time winning it," she said.
"We're obviously very proud of him. He's very quiet about everything, he's always hoping he might get that top mark."
Students with the top score in each subject in each year level are awarded a medal and a medal winner's certificate.
More than 980,000 entries were received in 2019, but only 514 students from Australia and 100 students from New Zealand and the Pacific Region were awarded medals for their outstanding achievement.
Medal presentation ceremonies are held annually around Australia and in Auckland, New Zealand.
These ceremonies are held in November and early December to publicly acknowledge, encourage and reward students' academic achievements.
Medals are presented to students in each year level in core areas of digital technologies, English, mathematics, science, spelling and writing.
