Students have celebrated their achievements with an end-of-year awards ceremony for the trades academy.
Over 170 Wairarapa students packed out the Carterton events centre.
Te Pukenga UCOL Wairarapa’s trade academy U-Skills offered 12 programmes this school year where years 11, 12, and 13 students got industry experience for one day each week.
UCOL performing arts students opened the ceremony with a kapa haka show.
Three students were honoured with awards, recognising outstanding commitment and achievement within their chosen programmes.
The improvement award was presented to Anniko Quinn-McLean, a homeschooled student, formally at Te Kura Kaupapa Maori o Wairarapa, recognising her success in the early childhood education programme.
The award acknowledged her excellent results in an English language course when te reo Maori was her first language.
Quinn-McLean said she wanted her final NCEA credits so she could continue studying early childhood education next year.
Dominic Sexton of Wairarapa College was awarded the dedication award for his efforts in the conservation programme at Pukaha.
He said he wanted to do something different in his final year of school.
“I wanted to get outdoors and learn some new skills. We trapped rats, built an aviary, and learnt about the natural environment,” Sexton said.
Roan Mabey, also from Wairarapa College, received the outstanding student award for his high-quality work in the construction programme.
Mabey said he had some experience with tools from working with his dad.
Mabey wants to get a building apprenticeship next year.
UCOL U-Skills will have a different name next year because UCOL has merged with Te Pukenga New Zealand Institute of Skills and Technology.
