Warwick Senior High School honoured former student Mark Hutchings by naming its House Competition after the West Coast Eagles premiership player.
Hutchings was on hand at the school on Thursday to hand over an honour board and the Mark Hutchings Shield for Champion House to Principal Lesley Wintle.
Hutchings graduated from Warwick SHS in 2008 and was part of the school’s renowned Specialist Australian Rules Football Program.
He was also an excellent student, achieving an ATAR score of 95.25.
“It was a great school and I really enjoyed my time here,” Hutchings said.
“I loved every minute of it. To be here today and to have the Championship House competition named after me is pretty special. I certainly wasn’t expecting it.”
House championship coordinator Glenn Osborne said Hutchings was chosen as the patron of the house competition because he was more than just a great athlete.
“He was a fine student and a member of our Academic Extension programs,” Mr Osborne said.
“Teachers speak of his organisation, leadership and teamwork when recalling his time at Warwick.
“Mark is a fitting embodiment of the qualities that we think will make a great House competitor – determined, dedicated and fair.”
Hutchings called on students to participate in as many events as possible and to aim high.
“It’s important to strive to be better than you were the day before or the year before,” Hutchings said.
Students can win points for their house in sporting carnivals, other activities which include problem solving, teamwork or academic prowess, as well as through consistent behaviour in class.