Three youngsters from Flintshire have shared ambitious aspirations to advance our understanding of science after being recognised for their top grades.
Elfed High School pupils Millicent, Oliver, and Milla are eager to contribute to new discoveries in biology, chemistry, and space beyond their secondary education.
The year 11 learners’ exceptional performance in STEM (science, technology, engineering, and mathematics) have seen their achievements celebrated by Synthite’s annual science prize accolade.
The winner of this year’s award, 15-year-old Millicent, was elated to have secured the honour.
Hailing from Buckley, the youngster said: “Receiving this prize has been totally unexpected for me, but I’m very happy to have been chosen.
“When it comes to science, biology is definitely my favourite, as I like to understand how everything works together in living things. I think my mum’s interest in the subject and her role in writing medical articles on it has also influenced me.
“Although I’m not certain what career I want yet, I read about our ability to grow plants in space, so I think that studying biology at a more advanced level in university to explore areas like this would be cool.”
Runner-up Oliver, 16, shares a similar sentiment, expressing an interest in discovering more about outer space.
The Buckley native said: “I’ve always enjoyed watching space documentaries and it’s fascinating to know that there is still so much to learn about the universe.
“For A-levels, I’m looking to study physics, economics, maths, and PE, as I enjoy being physically active and competitive but also love learning how you can problem solve with physics and maths.”
Fellow runner-up Milla, 15, is considering taking a slightly different path by pursuing a career in psychiatry, citing her mum as an influence on her passion for the medical field.
The Deeside teenager said: “My mum works in pharmaceuticals, and when I was younger, I used to watch a cartoon about cells and biology, so I think that’s where my love for science started.
“Nowadays, chemistry is my favourite subject because I like seeing how all the different chemicals interact with one another, and with psychiatry, you can learn how things like chemical imbalances affect someone’s mental health.”
Robert Head, director of science technology and ICT at the Elfed, lauded the trio for their commitment to academic excellence.
He said: “Selecting a winner and runners-up from our cohort is never easy, but Millicent, Oliver, and Milla’s dedication to their studies makes them well-deserving of the recognition.
“With all three pupils having opted to take triple science for their GCSEs and demonstrating real passion and commitment towards their education, I’m confident they will continue to thrive during their A-levels and beyond.”
Sue Wild, HR director at Synthite, said: “Year after year we’ve seen the impact recognising pupils’ achievements in STEM has on encouraging learners to pursue careers in the sciences, and this years’ group is no exception.
“The team here at Synthite want to wish Millicent, Oliver, and Milla the best of luck in their future studies.”
Synthite has operated from Alyn Works, Denbigh Road, Mold, since the 1950s. It employs 120 people.
