One to watch: Sam Viskovich
One of the things we love doing in Channel Magazine is highlighting the outstanding achievements of our young people. During the recent Rugby World Cup festivities, I was lucky enough to attend the John Drake Memorial Scholarship Dinner, which this year also doubled as a reunion for the 1987 Rugby World Cup winning All Blacks team. At that dinner – attended by over 800 people – the annual John Drake Memorial Scholarship was awarded to Sam Viskovich of our very own Westlake Boys High School. I discovered that Sam Viskovich is one very special lad. The next day, I decided that Channel readers needed to know more about him. So I met him for a chat at Westlake Boys in late October.
Sam Viskovich
– John Drake Memorial Scholarship Recipient 2011
Just to paint an early picture, this is what was said about Sam at the recent Westlake Boys prizegiving, where he picked up loads of prizes and another scholarship... “Sam is an exceptionally talented young man. He is a scholar, a gifted public speaker and debater, an actor, a young entrepreneur, and a dedicated sportsman. He is Captain of our First XV this year, Sports Captain of the school, and Deputy Head Boy. Sam’s academic achievements have been remarkable for their range. In his AS examinations at the end of Year 12, his scores included 100% in History and 95% in Economics... He has become one of the most accomplished young debaters in Auckland. In 2010, he was Top Speaker in Auckland, and this year he has captained and coached our Advanced Premier team… He was also Managing Director of ‘Bonza’ last year, placing second as ‘Company of the Year’ in the North Shore Young Enterprise competition. Sam has also performed on stage. In his first year in school, he took part in the school’s production of ‘Once on Chunuk Bair’, and this year he took on a main role in the production of ‘Guys and Dolls’.”
Got the picture? Sam Viskovich’s parents must be very very proud.
Arriving at Westlake Boys, young Sam is there waiting for me. You get the feeling that he will spend his whole life being early. Being prepared. He’s not a big lad, solid but not tall, which is probably why coaches are encouraging him to move from flanker to hooker next year to further his rugby career. He’s built more like an Andrew Hore or Keven Mealamu than a Richie McCaw or a Jerome Kaino.
Sam Viskovich lives at Northcote with his mum Linda and dad Alan, who operate a fishing charter business called Cobalt Charters. He has an older sister, Breanna (20), who is studying teaching at Auckland University. Sam went to Northcote Primary and Takapuna Intermediate before moving on to Westlake Boys.
The John Drake Memorial Scholarship that Sam has received is worth $5000 a year. The scholarship supports an outstanding all-rounder who intends to study at the University and also play for the Auckland University Rugby Football Club. John Drake, who died in 2008 aged 49, was an Auckland graduate and a redoubtable prop forward in the World Cup-winning All Blacks team of 1987. The scholarship in his memory is awarded to a school leaver who has excelled both in rugby and academically, while showing the potential to emulate John Drake’s attitude and success both on and off the rugby field.
Sam was one of the large number of applicants for the scholarship and was thrilled to be on the shortlisted group of seven who were interviewed by Sir John Graham (Patron to the Scholarship), John Taylor (Director of External Relations, The University of Auckland), Robert Taylor and David Wein (both Auckland University Rugby Club).
At University, Sam plans to take a conjoint Bachelor of Commerce and Bachelor of Arts. For his BCom he will do a double major in Economics and International Business, while for his BA he will major in Psychology.
During my conversation with Sam, I did discover a downside to this whole thing. He’s been flogged by Auckland Rugby! He will play his rugby for Auckland University in the Auckland competition and not for his junior club Northcote in the mighty Harbour competition.
So what makes Sam Viskovich such a high achiever? I put the question to him.
“I have an interest in a whole range of things and Westlake has been great for me. Westlake is all about getting involved and having a go, so you do a range of things, compete and ultimately exceed. I am a very competitive person by nature so I have a huge desire to be the best – whether that’s rugby, debating, young enterprise or academically.”
I asked Westlake Boys Headmaster David Ferguson for a comment about Sam, and this is what he had to say. “Sam has had a fantastic year as our Deputy Head Boy, School Sports Captain as well as being our 1st XV Captain. He has applied the same leadership principles that he uses with the 1st XV to sport across the school. He is approachable, modest and leads by example and is an outstanding role model to our younger students. Sam was named as the Auckland debating champion in 2010 and was also a very successful young entrepreneur. As well as the John Drake scholarship, he has also secured a prestigious scholarship with Pricewaterhouse Coopers. We are very proud of his achievements. He is very much an all-rounder who excels in everything that he does. We will miss him at Westlake next year, he has been an outstanding leader.”
Sam Viskovich has big goals for the future. He wants to go “as far as he can in rugby” and while he didn’t say it, for any young Kiwi that means the All Blacks. After University, his path looks likely to be as an entrepreneur. He has lofty ambitions but understands that he needs to gain experience first.
I finished my chat by asking him what he thinks he will be doing in 10 years’ time.
“Hopefully I will have cracked it as a rugby player, be moving up in the commerce world and maybe even running my own business. While I want rugby to be a big part of my life, the academic side is also very important to me.”
When he applied for the John Drake scholarship, Sam quoted a Croatian family proverb in his application that has been passed down from his great-grandparents, translated as: “Give me knowledge and I’ll give you wealth.” He saw the Drake Scholarship as “the perfect opportunity to continue acquiring knowledge and gain wealth, not simply in money but in experience and values, with which to make a positive and significant impact on society.”
So mark Sam Viskovich down as one to watch, Channel readers. We’ve just got to find a way to make sure this future leader remains on the Shore and becomes an All Black, while playing his rugby for North Harbour!
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