Jozef Erece

Jozef Maynard Borja Erece (born October 29, 1996 in Auckland, New Zealand), is a Filipino- Kiwi who is the youngest solicitor in the Southern Hemisphere^[1] and the youngest law graduate in Australian history.^[2] In 2015, he became the youngest person to graduate from University of Southern Queensland^[3] in Australia at 18 years old.^[4] House Resolution No. 2072 was introduced by Rep. Eric Olivarez that bestowed a Congressional Commendation and Congratulations to Jozef from the Republic of the Philippines House of Representatives resolved 6 May 2015 for graduating law at a young age of 18 in Australia, making him one of the youngest recipients of a law degree in the world.^[5] He was admitted into the Queensland Roll of Barristers and Solicitors on September 7, 2015 in Brisbane, Australia at 18 years old.

Background

Jozef Erece was born in Auckland, New Zealand to Maynard Victor Minano Erece (an educator) and Dr. Josephine Ana Soberano Borja( a medical doctor). In 1996, the family migrated to New Zealand where Jozef and his sister Maynah was born.

Jozef became the youngest tae kwon do instructor in New Zealand when he received his third degree black belt in Tae kwon do^[6] at 13 years old. He helped teach in the mixed adult and children’s classes at the Sejong Tae Kwon do club based at Waikato University in Hamilton New Zealand prior to moving to Australia.^[7] An all around athlete, Jozef captained his high school basketball and Chess teams and represented the Waikato region in New Zealand and Ipswich City in Australia in age group tournaments. He currently holds Acceleration Australia's vertical jump record for the 17 year old male category. An accomplished violinist,^[8] he played with the Waikato Youth Orchestra and the combined St. John’s college and Sacred Heart College Orchestra in Hamilton, New Zealand.

Academic Excellence

Jozef was academically accelerated by three years during his primary and secondary education. In 2003, he graduated as Dux (Valedictorian) at St. Peter’s Catholic School in Cambridge, New Zealand.^[9] Jozef attended St John's College, Hamilton, New Zealand from 2009 until 2011 as the Academic and Music Scholar. In 2011 he received his University entrance at Year 11 by taking Year 13 subjects. At 14 years old, he was offered a place at the Waikato University Law School in Hamilton,^[10] New Zealand and at 15 matriculated to the University of Southern Queensland where he completed his law degree after 3 years.^[11]

References