Schools Excellence Awards dinner recognises student excellence and industry partnerships

MC for the award, Trades and Services Lecturer Leni Fifita, chats with Martin Smith and ITAB Apprentice of the Year, Cedric Folaumoetu’i.

Our Schools of Building Construction and Trades and Services held their combined annual student Excellence Awards Dinner 2019 earlier this month. The Awards celebrate the success and excellence of our learners as well as our industry partners, who support us in ensuring that we produce a high quality, skilled workforce.

Award categories included Best/Top student, Best Research Project, Top Apprentice and Lecturer’s Choice across Carpentry, and Plumbing, Gasfitting and Drain-laying.

Trudy Vinkenvleugel accepts flowers from Lee Baglow and Paul Jeurissen

The event, which included dinner at Sorrento in the Park restaurant in One Tree Hill Domain, was sponsored by the many industry organisations that we work with and was a fantastic opportunity to network and reflect on the progress made by both our students and our industry partners.

Merran Davis opened the awards with a speech to congratulate the students and their teachers for their success this year and to also thank the generous sponsors, our industry partners, who helped to make the event a special one. Other speakers included Lee Baglow – Head of Trades and Services, Paul Jeurissen – Head of Building Construction, and some of the winners, who shared stories of their studies, along with their appreciation. The keynote speaker was former student Tamati Parker, who shared his own stories and inspired the learners to continue on their journey.

Leni Fifitia interviewing Keynote speaker, Tamati Parker

Trudy Vinkenvleugel, Business Administrator for Building Construction, was also recognised with a bunch of flowers for the huge part she played in organising the awards.

Paul Jeurissen, Head of Building Construction said “Our annual awards recognises the top performers in Building Construction and Trades and Services and puts them in the spotlight. On top of that, it’s a chance to thank our industry partners for their contribution – we work closely together to ensure our learners are part of a high quality, skilled workforce”.

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