Motueka High School dux literally aims for the stars
Alyssa Burt’s head for maths and passion for aerospace led to the top academic achievement at Motueka High School in 2023. Photo: Elise Vollweiler.
Do the maths here. Take a life-long love of Star Wars, add a talent for physics and multiply it by the logic of calculus. What does that equate to?
Answer: One Motueka High School dux, who is setting her sights on working for satellite and space-craft manufacturer Rocket Lab.
Alyssa Burt was “lost for words” to be announced as the 2023 dux at the end-of-year prize-giving. In a rare double-feature, she was also announced as the top all-round student, which is an accolade that takes into account students’ extra-curricular activities as well as their academic achievements.
She says the biggest challenge of high school was the “pressure and anxiety of getting good grades”.
She balanced this by holding onto her extra-curricular activities, which included band, library, breakfast club and theatre sports.
“It becomes part of your routine,” she says.
The 17-year-old had her eye on getting dux in previous years, and although she knew she was a contender, 2023 was all about just getting though the year.
Alyssa paced her study, with some inevitable last-minute sprints to cram for assessments.
The “real world applications” of physics and the logic of mathematics hold a fascination that she is taking through to her University of Canterbury journey this year, where she will study a four-year degree in engineering with honours, and a minor in aerospace.
This opens doors for employment in the likes of NASA, SpaceX or the coveted Rocket Lab, where she made the shortlist this year for an internship. She says she was one of the three final candidates, making it through two rounds of interviews, so her foot is already in that door, if only by a crack.
Her family also proudly represents the Star Wars franchise at the Motueka Starlight Christmas Parade (“My family are the Star Wars nerds” is how Alyssa words it).
Her scout trooper suit is too small for her now, so she’s dabbling with the possibilities of donning the red robes of an Imperial Praetorian Guard.
“It’s carrying on the family tradition,” she says with a laugh.