Prime Minister’s Vocational Excellence Award 2022

Damas Buhendwa

Congratulations to Year 13 student Damas Buhendwa who has won the Prime Minister’s Vocational Excellence Award for 2022.

This award recognises outstanding students enrolled in vocational programmes who have shown they have what it takes to develop the skills, knowledge, and attributes to build a career within industry.

Damas has taken full advantage of the opportunities available to him, both in academic and extra-curricular pursuits to enhance his skills and education relevant to his career pathway.

Damas’s positive attitude and interest in the trades industry has led him to be part of our Gateway Programme, where he has had the opportunity to develop his skills and passion in the electrical industry.

As a requirement of the Gateway Programme, Damas completed a one day a week work placement with Feisst Electrical in Hamilton where he gained a lot of practical skills and knowledge across the electrical industry. Damas made a very positive impression with his employer and work colleagues, which led to them giving him responsibilities out on the worksite. As a result of this placement, Damas has obtained a casual contract during the school holidays. Once Damas has completed his Electrical Level 3 training through WINTEC Te Pukenga in 2023, Feisst Electrical see Damas as a potential employee.

Damas thoroughly deserves the recognition and the $2,000 that comes with this award.

Well done, Damas!

Waikato Trades Academy 2022

The Waikato Trades Academy programme is a secondary-tertiary programme that provides students with the opportunity to continue with their school education along with learning new skills in a variety of vocational pathways.

Students select one area of interest and attend practical classes one day per week at the WINTEC Te Pukenga Rotokauri Campus. They attend their usual timetabled subjects at school for the other four days of the week.

This option of study and the skills they learn assist them in preparing for a pathway into further education in their chosen area or entry into employment or an apprenticeship.

It is a great opportunity for students to start developing the skills and attributes that are valued by employers alongside gaining NCEA Level 2 and Level 3 credits.

This year our WTA students have been involved in numerous hands-on, practical programmes which included areas in plumbing, electrical, building, engineering, automotive and electrical. Through these programmes students have manufactured mini motor bikes and built dog kennels, playhouses and drift bikes.

Students on the Café Skills and Professional Cookery programmes have enhanced their abilities in food preparation, barista, and have had the opportunity to create international dishes and strengthen their cooking skills by having the opportunity to work in a commercial kitchen.

Our WTA second year Level 3 Sport Science students have engaged in topics such as anatomy, physiology, wellness, mental health, human behaviour, exercise and nutrition.

This year we would like to extend our congratulations to Tom Irvine who is a HBHS Year 12 student. Tom was awarded with the Certificate of Distinction for the WTA Certificate in Educational Achievement in Building and Construction Level 3 programme. Tom also secured himself a building apprenticeship at the end of October with a builder in Raglan. What a fantastic achievement, Tom!