Celebrating our most outstanding students!
The Gordon Awards for Excellence have recognised our most outstanding students for 2022 at a gala awards celebration. Rewarding excellence across academic, career and personal achievement, community involvement and leadership, we unveiled our Apprentice of the Year, Pippa Macpherson, and our Student of the Year, Rachael Parrot.
Thank you to our generous sponsors
The Gordon Awards for Excellence is made possible by the generous donations of our wonderful sponsors. Thirty-seven students were recognised at the awards, with $13,500 in prize money presented to winners across 21 award categories. Thank you to our sponsors, your support is greatly appreciated.
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Meet the winners
Our Gordon Awards for Excellence winners represented a broad cross-section of trade and vocational programs, including more than 4,000 apprentices and trainees from the 14,000 students who studied on-campus, off-campus, full and part-time, online and through industry-based education and training opportunities in 2022.
Awards for apprentices or trainees
Automotive and Engineering Apprentice Excellence Award
Sponsor: Knuckey Engineering
Winner: Tam Quach, Certificate III in Engineering – Fabrication Trade
Culinary Apprentice Award
Sponsor: Leura Park Estate
Winner: Pippa Macpherson
Hairdressing Apprentice Excellence Award
Sponsor: Victorian Group Training
Winner: Joanna Mercieca
Licensed Trade Excellence Award
Sponsor: Middy’s Electrical
Winner: Luke Kane
School-based Apprentice and Trainee Excellence Award
Sponsor: Victorian Group Training
Winner: Emma Aspland
Awards for certificate, diploma or advanced diploma students
Art and Design Excellence Award
Sponsor: Signific
Winner: Eva Carbines-La Spada
Business and Technology Excellence Award
Sponsor: The Gordon
Winner: Melanie Henderson
Building and Construction
Sponsor: MEGT
Winner: Brittany Delorenzo
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Community Services Excellence Award
Sponsor: City of Greater Geelong
Winner: Joshua Harding
Culinary and Tourism Excellence Award
Sponsor: Leura Park Estate
Winner: Nicholas Roberts
Environmental Excellence Award
Sponsor: Barwon Water
Winner: Tiah Hobbs-Little
Foundation and Language Excellence Award
Sponsor: Cultura
Winner: Mohammad Reza Haidari
Hair and Beauty Excellence Award
Sponsor: Print Design
Winner: Nikita Aston
Health and Science Excellence Award
Sponsor: Geelong Chamber of Commerce
Winner: Rachael Parrot
Awards across all program areas
International Excellence Award
Sponsor: Tourism Greater Geelong and the Bellarine
Winner: Moeed Ahmed
VCE/VET in Schools Excellence Award
Sponsor: Geelong Manufacturing Council
Winner: Allison Hollins
Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Excellence Award
Sponsor: Wadawurrung Traditional Owners Aboriginal Corporation
Winner: Isiaih Cameron
Community Spirit Award
Sponsor: Geelong Connected Communities
Winner: Harley Walker
Lifelong Learning Award
Sponsor: Skilling the Bay
Winner: Melanie Henderson
Apprentice of the Year
Sponsor: Gforce Employment Solutions
Winner: Pippa Macpherson
Student of the Year
Sponsor: Deakin University
Winner: Rachael Parrot