SWTAFE’s top apprentice awarded
More than 300 people attended the awards night to acknowledge the outstanding achievements of students across automotive, carpentry, cabinet making, electrical, engineering and plumbing trades.
This year’s Apprentice of the Year was won by third year engineering apprentice Elijah McLeod.
Elijah is employed by Midfield Meats and also won the best third year engineering apprentice of the year and the Andy Kinnear Commemorative awards on the night.
He was awarded for his passion, quality workmanship and the help and support he has shown for his fellow apprentices.
Elijah now has the opportunity to go forward to the Victorian Training Awards.
South West TAFE CEO Mark Fidge said the awards night was a fantastic opportunity to recognise both the success of our students and their employers.
He said it was particularly pleasing that both the Minister for Training and Skills the Honourable Gayle Tierney and the Victorian Skills Commissioner Neil Coulson presented awards on the night and were able to congratulate our students on their outstanding achievements.
South West TAFE Food, Fibre and Land manager Paul Meredith said the awards were about showing apprentices and their employers how much they were valued and what they could achieve after their apprenticeships.
As well as awards for the top students in each year level, commemorative awards were also presented to outstanding students dedicated to their trades.
Major award winners on the night included:
- Best third year automotive apprentice: Andrea Iurissevich.
- Best third year cabinet making apprentice: Nathan Monk.
- Best third year carpentry apprentice: Daniel Schild.
- Best fourth year electrotechnology apprentice: James Hayden.
- Best third year fabrication engineering apprentice: Connor Fitzgerald.
- Best third year mechanical engineering apprentice: Elijah McLeod.
- Best third year plumbing apprentice: Beau James.
“These awards are given to students who are enthusiastic, dedicated and committed to a future in the trade,” Mr Meredith said.