Despite a year of fire, flood and pandemic, 35 public school students from our region were named on the Distinguished Achievers list this year.

Distinguished Achievers are those who achieve a band six in one or more of their HSC subjects.

Bomaderry High student Zara Podmore achieved four band sixes, two extension band fours and a band five in her studies, which ranged from Drama to Physics.

She credited her teachers, a passion for her studies and a bit of hard work.

"It was nerve wracking to wake up and look at the results, but I was proud of how I've done," she said.

"It's been an unexpected year but I feel so lucky to have the support I did from the school to achieve these results. All the teachers got behind us and did everything they could to support us."

Bomaderry High School principal Ian Morris said he was incredibly proud of the outstanding results students at his school achieved.

"It's quite an emotional day with the year we've had," he said.

"I'm just so excited of them and so proud, I'm so proud of the whole school community. Staff have gone above and beyond, and students have achieved outstanding results across the school."

Department of Education Executive Director, Mark Barraket said every student who secured their goals by successfully completing the HSC deserve our heartiest congratulations.

"2020 has been a very challenging year for everyone, but we are very proud of how schools have nurtured every student so they could work towards achieving their own personal goals," he said.

Distinguished Achievers

Bomaderry High School: Patrick Adams, Jackson Bamber, Sari Boardman, Ella Davidson, Damien Gauci, Emily Gillen. Cassandra O'Carrol, Zara Podmore.

Nowra High School: Adam Garlick, Ethan Havadjia, Jarrod James, Patrick Kerrigan, Jessica O'Donnell, Anabel Robson, Karlee Symonds, Hannah Urquart. Chenglin Wu.

Ulladulla High School: Mackenzie Creech, Annabelle Garrett, Rochelle Goodwin, Jade Mudge, Axel Nurdin, Chloe Randazzo, Angus Rutherford, Julian Stephens, Aston Street, Kirsten Tidbury, William Walton.

Vincentia High School: Sarah Blackman, Braidden Connolly, Tegan McKay, Matt Pesu, Lucy Swanson, Lily Wheeler.