In front of an audience of over 300 family, friends, staff and industry supporters, the St Patrick’s Technical College Class of 2016 celebrated their graduation at the Adelaide Convention Centre on Friday 18 November.
As well as presenting graduating students with their Certificates of Completion, individual awards were presented as part of the College’s annual Awards Program. A full list of the Class of 2016 Award Winners and supporters is provided below.
The St Patrick’s Technical College Awards is program is valued at close to $10,000 thanks to the generosity and support of our Awards Partners. We are most grateful for their continued support and their commitment to our programs and students.
Guests at the Graduation Dinner were addressed by College Chair, Mrs Tricia Hicks, with a message of encouragement for all graduates to go on exceeding expectations. College Principal, Mr Rob Thomas, used the words of St Teresa of Calcutta to inspire graduates to go out into the world doing good no matter what life holds.
The major award of the night, the Max Davids Award for Apprentice of the Year, went to Electrotechnology student-apprentice, Rhys Ferrari. Rhys, a first year apprentice electronics technician with Ai Group Apprentice & Trainee Centre, hosted at BAE Systems, was a finalist in the SA Training Awards this year where he took out the People’s Choice Award. Rhys also took out Electrotechnology Apprentice of the Year honours.
The Minister for Education & Child Development’s Volunteering Award for Outstanding Service was awarded to the Rotary Club of Elizabeth. This regcognises Rotary’s involvement, over many years, in our student orientation program and their assistance with the alumni economic and social impact study the College is currently undertaking.
Royal Australian Navy Chaplain, Wayne Philp, presented the Long Tan Award for Leadership and Teamwork to Plumbing Student of the Year, Jae McGeorge, who also took home the College Spirit Award.
Electrotechnology student, Zach Vermeeren, added the Principal’s Award for College Student of the Year to the Student of the Year Award for the Electrotechnology program.
The evening concluded with a photographic retrospective of the Class of 2016 and the symbolic passing of the College Candle from Class of 2016 Captain, Nicola Warren, to Class of 2017 Captain, Josh Tassone, who co-compered the night.
MAJOR AWARDS
Max Davids Award | Apprentice of the Year – presented by Group Training Australia (SA)
> RHYS FERRARI (Ai Group ATC / BAE Systems)
Principal’s Award | Student of the Year – presented by Stratco
> ZACHARY VERMEEREN (Roger Girdham Electrical)
College Spirit Award | Caltex Best Allrounder – presented by Totally Workwear, supported by Leesa Vlahos MP
> JAE McGEORGE
Minister for Education & Child Development’s Volunteering Award for Outstanding Service – supported by Susan Close MP
> THE ROTARY CLUB OF ELIZABETH
Long Tan Youth Leadership and Teamwork Award – presented by the Australian Defence Forces
> JAE McGEORGE
Catholic Education SA Technical College Award – presented by Catholic Education SA
> AHMAD KARIMI
SCHOOL OF BUILDING & CONSTRUCTION AWARDS
Construction | Student of the Year – presented by Training Prospects
> RHYS TURNER
Construction | Apprentice of the Year – presented by Adelaide Tools
> ANTONINO BAGNATO (Cavallaro Building & Constructions)
Plumbing | Student of the Year – presented by HIA Apprentices
> JAE McGEORGE
Plumbing | Apprentice of the Year – presented by the Master Plumbers Association of SA
> KYLE CULLEN (Complete Stormwater Systems)
SCHOOL OF COMMUNITY SERVICE, HOSPITALITY & LIFESTYLE AWARDS
Food & Hospitality | Student of the Year – presented by Apprenticeship Support Australia
> JENNIFER LYKKE
Hair & Beauty | Student of the Year – presented by TAFE SA
> JADE BING
Hair & Beauty | Apprentice of the Year – presented by MEGT
> BROOKE McARTHUR (Robins Harris)
SCHOOL OF ENGINEERING & TRANSPORT AWARDS
Automotive | Student of the Year – presented by the Motor Trade Association
> JENNIFER WOODLAND
Automotive | Apprentice of the Year – presented by Statewide Group Training
> BRANDON MADDEN-BAKER (Peter Kittle Toyota)
Electrotechnology | Student of the Year – presented by PEER VEET
> ZACHARY VERMEEREN (Roger Girdham Electrical)
Electrotechnology | Apprentice of the Year – presented by Ai Group Apprentice & Trainee Centre
> RHYS FERRARI (Ai Group ATC / BAE Systems)
Metals & Engineering | Apprentice of the Year – presented by the Defence Teaming Centre
> YUSEPH MILLER (Ai Group ATC / Century Engineering)
Metals & Engineering | Apprentice of the Year – presented by Maxima
> MATTHEW LAMBERT (Salisbury Towbars)