Rockquest winners open graduation ceremony

Photo: Toka Poa, Cypress Kani-Hirinui and Wiremu Rogan of Whanganui High School performing at the Training For You graduation ceremony.
PHOTO / Karen Hughes, Training For You.

A special ceremony was held last week to acknowledge tertiary students who have successfully completed programmes of study with Whanganui training provider Training For You.

Students, their families and supporters gathered alongside tutors and other Training For You staff and stakeholders for an evening of celebration. Held at Heritage House, the ceremony highlighted the achievements of students graduating from the Semester One 2018 programmes.

The ceremony opened with a warming performance from Whanganui High School senior students Cypress Kani-Hirinui, Toka Poa and Wiremu Rogan. This talented group were winners of the Tangata Beats category, and are overall regional finalists in the 2018 Smokefree Rockquest competition.

Thirty-eight students were presented with certificates of completion, across six areas of study; Business Administration & Technology, Healthcare, Literacy and Numeracy, Early Childhood Education and Foundation Skills. Several special awards were presented to students who showed outstanding attributes.

Of the 15 students that graduated from the Healthcare programme, 11 have already secured employment within the healthcare sector.

General manager Campbell Means notes that a description of a typical Training For You student is quite different from that of a graduate.

“It has been moving and inspiring to see the transformation achieved by students. The most moving thing is when students talk about their challenging backgrounds and then thank their tutor and others who have helped them at Training For You. We know how hard it can be for students who perhaps didn’t find success at school to turn up to Training For You and keep coming,” he says.

Master of Ceremonies for the event was recently-appointed education manager Josie Gray.

Josie has been with the organisation for four years and has seen the impact of education on students’ lives many times over.

“We are incredibly proud of each of the students who have graduated. They show determination, strength and drive to complete their studies and grow themselves as individuals.”

A new cohort of students will start at the campus next week. Training For You delivers a range of fees-free programmes, including the newly-launched Retail & Cafe´ Service Skills, Level 2 programme that will provide not one but two Level 2 qualifications for the successful graduates.

Enrolments for Semester Two programmes are open now.

Training For You is a Category 1 tertiary education provider as determined by the NZQA External Evaluation Report (published October 28, 2015). The organisation provides National and New Zealand Level 1-5 programmes through online learning, and on-campus classes here in Whanganui. Programmes on offer include Early Childhood Education, Teacher Aiding, Administration & Technology, Healthcare, Foundation Skills and Retail & Cafe´ Service Skills. The NZCALNE Level 5 qualification is for vocational tutors and workplace trainers. Additional education and training solutions are delivered in employment skills and work preparation, and a specialised on-site Workplace Training programme for employers. Training For You is accepting enrolments for semester two now.

For more information visit the website www.trainingforyou.co.nz.

Wanganui Midweek 25/7/18