He was one a few top students who received awards at an event hosted by the Gauteng Department of Education (GDE).
He is also the top student of Protea School and achieved five distinctions in the National Senior Certificate (NSC) exams.
In maths literacy he achieved 89%, business studies (80%), civil technology (89%), computer applications technology (83%) and engineering graphics and design (82%).
He will further his maths and science to complete the N6 level at the JFA College in Boksburg.
“I want to study civil engineering,” he says.
Magda Barnard, vice principal of Protea School, says he is a positive, humble and hard working youngster.
Aaltje Goodrich, his mother, says Dean is an independent boy who learned at an early age to work hard to achieve his goals.
The five distinctions came as a big surprise as he only expected three distinctions.
Aaltje says her son didn’t sleep on Tuesday night and left the house at midnight to try and find a newspaper.
He knew he had to go to Randburg but didn’t have his results yet.
He currently qualifies for a GDE bursary.
Another award awaits him on Tuesday (January 12) when he will be attending a mayoral matric award function in Tshwane.
