Students, tutors and staff celebrate training successes

Working With Children graduate Rachel Toohill (former WHS student) is presented with her certificate by tutors Amy Fitzgerald (left) and Michaela Newman (right).
PHOTO / Karen Hughes

A ceremony was held 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 staff for an evening of celebration.

The ceremony, at Heritage House, highlighted the achievements of students graduating from the Semester One 2017 programmes.

Forty-nine students were presented with certificates of completion, across five areas of study; business administration & computing, health & education, healthcare, literacy and numeracy, and early childhood. Several special awards were presented to students that showed outstanding attributes.

Among the students were mother-and-daughter duo Donna Jones and Shavaughn Jones-Dennan (former WHS student) who completed the business administration and early childhood education programmes respectively.

Sisters Holly and Hannah Evans (both former WHS students) completed the healthcare programme together, and Cyndy Puapii completed the early childhood programme alongside her daughter Tara.

Early childhood tutor Amy Fitzgerald sees the benefits of knowledge sharing amongst the different generations.

"They can encourage each other both on campus and at home with their learning," she said.

"They can then support each other into their next career path, contributing to the household and empowering the whole family."

Of the 14 students that graduated from the healthcare programme, eight have already secured employment within the sector. Another is employed elsewhere, and one student is about to take her study a step further, having secured a place on the UCOL three-year nursing degree programme.

General manager Campbell Means commended the students on their achievements and encouraged them to build on the momentum of their current success.

"It's important for graduating students to build upon their self-belief, reinforce the changes they are making in their lives, and give themselves as many opportunities to be successful as they can."

By Staff Reporter
Wanganui Chronicle 7/8/17