On any given day, you might find him in the STEM Precinct undertaking an experiment in the Chemistry lab, dominating the basketball courts during sport class, mentoring students in our clubs program, or connecting with a teacher after school to discuss his studies.

Beyond campus, Shiven is also deeply connected to the local community. He supports volunteer work through his local club, swims with the Brimbank Aquatic Centre squad team, and plays basketball for Sydenham Panthers Basketball Club, where he has won four championships and been named Most Valuable Player three times.

The academic, leadership, and community badges on his Blazer, all awarded through the Colours Program, tell the story of an outstanding student who contributes with pride to the life of our school and wider community.

“SCG has been able to provide me with all the experience and learning to succeed.”

Opportunities that Open Doors

Shiven joined Southern Cross Grammar in 2022 as a Year 7 student. Since then, he has embraced the breadth of opportunities available to him, nurturing his passion for STEM, his sports performance, his leadership, and his commitment to giving back.

“SCG has been able to provide me with all the experience and learning to succeed,” he said. “Something I also enjoy about the school is the range of subjects and co-curricular opportunities available. We have the Plant Tissue Culture Laboratory (the Pink STEM Room), interschool sport, SCG Active, and excursions designed to support our VCE activities.”

Now in Year 11, Shiven is studying Chemistry, Mathematical Methods, Accounting, Specialist Mathematics, Applied Computing, and English: subjects that allow him to be creative while drawing on his analytical thinking skills.

“SCG has given me access to different teachers who guide us. Because SCG is smaller than a lot of schools, you become much closer with the teachers; they understanding your personal growth, what you need to develop, and what you are already good at.”

A Passion for STEM and What is Possible

“My love for STEM has always been there, but coming to SCG gave me a lot more opportunities than I had seen before,” he said.

STEM has always been part of Shiven’s story. His parents nurtured his love of maths from a young age and excellence in Chemistry runs in the family. In 2023, Shiven won a Minor Bursary in the Science Talent Search for his research into nanobots, an achievement that remains one of his many highlights at SCG.

“[My partner and I] created a project about how [nanobots] could be injected into the bloodstream to heal internal wounds without the risk of invasive surgery, he said. “The project allowed us to showcase what the future of medicine could look like.”

Teachers Who See Potential

While Shiven’s achievements reflect his drive, he is quick to acknowledge the teachers who have helped him see new possibilities and shape his learning journey for the better.

“SCG has given me access to different teachers who guide us. Because SCG is smaller than a lot of schools, you become much closer with the teachers. Our teachers push us to understand that we need to have a broad set of capabilities and a wide range of skills, otherwise we won’t make it far.”

Being challenged by his teachers to go beyond what he first thought possible is what soaring means to Shiven. “To me, soaring means going beyond what you originally thought your capabilities were and creating new ceilings for yourself.”