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Student Achievement Award Winners 2008

Intermediate Personal Development Skills

Amy Winchester from Elisabeth Murdoch College

 

Amy was a driving force behind her VCAL class’s involvement in International Volunteer Day and was the leader of a mentoring program for Year 7 students. She was elected as VCAL School Captain and was nominated for 2009 School Captain, a feat never before achieved by a VCAL student at Elisabeth Murdoch College. Amy received outstanding references from Ballam Park Pre-School, where she has volunteered for the last two years. Amy is deeply concerned about women suffering from Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome and is currently working to raise awareness about the condition.

 

Intermediate Work Related Skills

Michael Payne from Terang College

 

Michael was an active contributor on a number of applied learning projects at his school. These included the construction of the set for the school play, the building of a boardwalk in the local wetlands and the creation of stage decorations for the local debutante ball. He successfully completed five units of Certificate II in Furnishing at TAFE in Warrnambool, and received a glowing letter of commendation from his manager at DemoDAIRY where he undertook his work placement.

 

Intermediate Outstanding Achievement

Adam Snow from Oberon High School

Adam undertook VCE VET Building and Construction at Gordon TAFE and completed Certificate II in Outdoor Recreation. Through this training Adam earned his Surf Lifesaving Bronze Medallion and his Level 1 First Aid Certificate. He organised the stand up paddle exhibition event at the Surfworld Festival of Surfing. He designed and built his own kiteboard for the event. Adam also helped to maintain Oberon High School’s native plant gardens and worked with at-risk middle-years students through the school’s Heron Yacht construction project.

 

Intermediate Team Achievement

The Narre Warren South P–12 College student team:

Stefan Blanco, Michelle Byrne, Michelle Carver, Jessica Connor, Craig Earl, Shenae Glynn, Angelica Grenade, Alysha Griffin, Filiz Lang, Tahlia Seisun, & Abigail Walker

 

Last year these students held a fashion catwalk event as a memorial to the sister of two students at their school who had recently passed away. They collaborated with local disadvantaged children’s charity Windermere to identify the children who would benefit from the money raised and attracted sponsorship from local businesses in order to fund the event. The team organised everything from catering to stage construction and the event raised over $2000 for their cause.

 

Senior Personal Development Skills

Paul McSween from Terang College

 

Paul showed outstanding personal growth throughout his Senior VCAL year. He organised the construction of the Terang College Memorial Boardwalk, which commemorates students from the school who have died in road tragedies. Paul planned and designed the 35 metre boardwalk to be constructed in the recently developed wetlands area at the school. He then led a team of VCAL students through the planning, fundraising and construction phases of the project.

 

Senior Work Related Skills

Jake Ryan from Monbulk College

 

Jake’s passion and flair for landscaping led him to win numerous awards in 2008, including the vetEAST First Year Horticulture Trainee of the Year Award and the 2008 Overall vetEAST Excellence Award. He demonstrated strong leadership skills in TAFE and school-based projects, such as the landscaping of a recently developed area of Monbulk College. Jake’s enthusiasm, dedication, skill and maturity have also made him an instrumental member of the team at Greenmark Landscapes, where he has been doing his traineeship.

 

Senior Outstanding Achievement

Rachel Cutajar from Keilor Downs College

 

Rachel undertook Certificate III in Hairdressing in 2008 and achieved outstanding results. She earned high praise from her employer at JC Hair and Beauty Shack, where she has been doing her school based apprenticeship. Rachel was actively involved in class projects, such as the production of a DVD to promote VET programs at Keilor Downs College. She led a team of students in organising an information night to promote VCAL at her school and was herself the evening’s keynote speaker. Rachel won the Keilor Downs College VCAL Achievement Award. She also won Victoria University’s Outstanding School Based Apprentice student and School Based Apprentice of the year awards.

 

Senior Team Achievement

The Our Lady of the Sacred Heart College student team:

Emily Alorto, Jessica Blenkinsop, Jessica Burke, Ashlee Cupit, Amelia Falvo, Megan Hendry, Chloe Jones, Jessica Labonne, Catherine Lawrence, Stella Litsios, Catherine Mahoney, Emily Sprigg, Frances Villegas, Alana Zangari.

 

The team developed a project to help students to improve their financial literacy skills. After completing 12 modules on the subject, the team used their newfound knowledge to design and develop a financial skills and strategies program called ‘Smart Money’ to be completed by all Year 10 students at the College. They created a ‘Smart Money’ booklet and delivered the course to the Year 10’s themselves.

 

VCAL School Based Apprentice/Trainee Award

Leigh Arthur from Elisabeth Murdoch College

 

Leigh excelled in her school based apprenticeship at Cadet Lodge Racing Stable. Since joining the team there, Leigh has undertaken Certificate II in Racing (Stablehand) and has gained valuable industry experience through her work. She has become a valued team member and is continuing her apprenticeship at Cadet Lodge in 2009. Leigh is now doing Certificate III in Racing (Trackrider) as part of her Senior VCAL, which will see her on track to achieving her goal of embarking on a career as a professional trackrider.

 

Ibrahim Najib from Box Forest Secondary College

 

In 2008 Ibrahim commenced his school based apprenticeship in Sport and Recreation. He worked as a physical education teacher’s assistant at Croxton School in Northcote, a special education centre for children with a variety of special needs. Ibrahim established a tremendous rapport with his students and received great praise from the school’s office staff, teachers and his supervisor. As a result of his contribution at the school, Ibrahim received an Award of Excellence at the 2008 Northern Melbourne Vocational Education and Training Awards.

 

Koorie Student Achievement

Tamara Marshall from Sunraysia Institute of TAFE

 

Tamara undertook a school based apprenticeship in Hospitality (Operations) in which she gained a series of placements at local eateries. These included Trentham Estate Winery and celebrity chef Stefano DePieri’s restaurant Deakin 27. Tamara helped plan a student trip to Melbourne for the AFL Indigenous round at the MCG and single-handedly planned and provided the catering for the Koorie Unit’s Dulka Yappata Day. Tamara won the VET Hospitality student of the year at the 2008 VET In Schools Student Excellence Awards for the Sunraysia region and has recently been nominated for Koorie Student of the Year.

 

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