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VCAA Bulletin
No.83 – October 2022

Excellence and awards

VCE Leadership Awards 2022

VCE Leaders 2022
Top, L–R: Bethany Yeuong, Alyssa Seckinger-Crow, Azraf Ezaz, Leena Mazin; Bottom, L–RKyra Hatzikosmidis, Lauren Dillon, Emily Harle, Toby Mew

Congratulations to 2022 VCE Leader of the Year, Leena Mazin of Sirius College – Keysborough Campus on Bunurong Country. Leena is School Captain and a Sergeant in the College's Army Cadet Unit. She led a fundraising team to raise $20,000 for the construction of an eye clinic in Mali.

The VCE Leadership Awards ceremony was held on Friday 16 September at the Treasury Theatre on Wurundjeri Country. The awards celebrate active participation and contribution from outstanding VCE students in their schools and the community.

VCAA Board Youth Member Aayushi Khillan presented awards to the 8 VCE Leaders. They were recognised for their many achievements, which included fighting for social justice and climate change awareness, advocating for Reconciliation, and amplifying the voices and issues of young minority groups in their communities.

CEO Stephen Gniel hosted the event and said, ‘These students engage and inspire others through their advocacy work to bring about social, regional, and global change.’


Dr Tien Kieu MP welcomed the audience on behalf ofster for Education, The Hon. Natalie Hutchins MP. Dr Tien was incredibly impressed by what the young leaders achieved beyond academic endeavours. ‘These awards are an important counterbalance, showing that the VCE year can be a year of community service as well as academic achievement,’ he said.

Musicians from McKinnon Secondary College saxophone quartet opened the ceremony and provided musical entertainment.

The VCAA selection panel noted that Leena demonstrated a level of maturity well beyond her years and her leadership had delivered tangible outcomes to her school community and beyond.

Most of all, the panel were impressed by Leena’s desire to uplift her peers and provide them with new opportunities. Leena has a passion for supporting young minority groups and advocating for better representation, asserting ‘you can’t be what you can’t see.’

Find out more about Leena and the other 2022 VCE Leadership Awards finalists.

Applications closing soon for the 2023 VCE Season of Excellence

Closing dates are just around the corner, so don't miss out on the chance to be part of the 2023 VCE Season of Excellence:

  • Top Designs 2023 (for all studies except VCE VET) and Top Screen 2023 applications close on Monday 17 October
  • Top Arts 2023 applications close on Wednesday 19 October
  • VCE VET Top Designs 2023 and Top Class Sound 2023 applications close on Wednesday 16 November

Find out more on the VCE Season of Excellence page.