A star is awarded: Sophie is top VET for 2019

Magic multi-tasking and a passion for early education has earnt Horizon High School student Sophie Altus top honours and prize money at this year’s Wakefield Regional Vocational Education and Training (VET) Student Awards.

For Sophie, working with children and helping them “develop to their full potential” is the dream. A dream she pursues while juggling Year 11 and undertaking, not one, but two certificates, volunteering in CFS and earning some dough.

With so much on her plate, including working in a bakery on weekends, Sophie has still managed to extend her love of teaching to training CFS cadets and being a leader on Christian camps.

Wakefield Regional Council teamed up with Balco Australia to present the awards to the best and brightest students who had excelled in their VET course or Australian School Based Apprenticeship/Traineeship (ASBA).

Proud parents and friends attended the awards – held in Balaklava - and long-time supporter, Balco Australia, once again sponsored the Awards through excellent cash prizes, gifted to both the winner and two runner-ups.

Two runner-ups, Emily Wandel and Josh Tiller were awarded Highly Commended Awards, and a Nomination Award was also given to all students in recognition of their submission.

Mayor Reid who presented the awards made mention during his speech of the difference VET makes to the lives of students in Wakefield, by providing them with high quality training to gain rewarding careers.

“In undertaking a VET course it means the students have found something they’re interested in, that they’re passionate about, that they wish to succeed in, and want to forge a career out of,” Mayor Reid said.

“Discovering a lifelong passion is something we celebrate with the students and the people who have supported them all the way - their families, their role models, their schools and course trainers, as part of these annual Awards.”

Last year’s winner Sampson Wilkop also spoke on the night of how the Awards played a hand in allowing him to pursue a career in media and radio, particularly in securing a place at Shaun Craig Murphy’s Radio School in Adelaide.

Sampson congratulated the students for stepping up and having a go at the Awards, explaining that putting yourself out there is the first brave step in any pursuit of success.

Award recipients from the night are as follows:

Nominees

• Brooke Adams – Certificate III in Christian Ministry and Theology
• Sophie Altus – Certificate III in Early Educational Care & Christian Ministry
• Mitchell Taylor – Certificate III in Pathways to Construction & Certificate III in Construction
• Ryan Burman – Certificate II, III in Carpentry
• Josh Tiller – Certificate III in Agriculture
• Hollie Franks – Certificate II in Food Processing (Baking)
• Debra Lambert – Certificate III in Tourism
• Emily Wandel – Certificate III in Agriculture

Winner

• Sophie Altus – Certificate III in Early Educational Care & Christian Ministry

Highly commended

• Emily Wandel – Certificate III in Agriculture
• Josh Tiller – Certificate III in Agriculture

Sponsorship Award

• Balco Australia

The VET Student Awards will be on again in 2020, with more cash prizes up for grabs, so keep an eye out for next year’s dates.

For more information about the awards visit our website, wrc.sa.gov.au.