Top student wants to be a commercial pilot

 By JOHN PANGKATANA

HE’S 18 and the jewel of the crown in the Koupere family in Alotau, Milne Bay.

Jope Koupere was rewarded for another exemplary year at Cameron Secondary School with the prestigious Grade 12 dux award during the graduation ceremony last Friday.

The young man claimed all the major awards for language and literature, advanced mathematics, chemistry, physics and geography.

Koupere said he felt proud of his accomplishment and credited his feats to his teachers, parents and friends who gave him the confidence to achieve what he did.

“Special thanks to my physics and chemistry teachers who have been most helpful. The school administration’s efforts to upgrade the facilities gave me a sense of pride to excel as well,” he said.

Koupere dreams of becoming a commercial pilot one day.

“Right now I hope to get into the University of Papua New Guinea as my first choice to do science foundation year,” he said.

“If I had another choice it would have be a medical doctor.”

The young man comes from a mixture of blood-lines. His father Andrew Koupere is from Ihu, in Gulf, and Ra province in Fiji. His mum Kila, a nurse at Alotau General Hospital, is from Boku, Rigo, in Central.

He will be in Port Moresby this week to represent his school at the IBS-sponsored national schools debate competition. He will accompany fellow students Ligogome Kaisa and Delilah Pwaka.