A Japanese born jewellery designer who combines running her own pearl business with study at Central TAFE has won the College’s top student honour.
Michiyo Kikuchi from Leederville was named Central TAFE’s 2009 Student of the Year at a ceremony tonight.
Michiyo joined fellow winners on the night including trainee Samantha Perry, who won Apprentice/Trainee of the Year.
Samantha successfully completed a Certificate III in Financial Services (Accounts Clerical) and a traineeship with boutique wealth management company Plan B.
Maltese born Oliver Cardona was named International Student of the Year. Oliver is currently studying an Advanced Diploma of Photography at Central TAFE having already acquired a Certificate IV in Photoimaging and Diploma of Photography in 2007 and 2008 respectively.
In the Access and Equity category, Yuan Zhou was selected as a winner for the English as a Second Language (ESL) category, while Helen Steffanoni picked up top honours for Student with a Disability.
The Minister for Training, the Hon Peter Collier presented the awards at a gala event at the Government House Ballroom before more than 200 students, staff and industry stakeholders.
The annual event officially recognises, rewards and promotes student and staff excellence at one WA’s largest training organisations.
The Student of the Year award is another impressive milestone for Michiyo who only arrived in Perth in 2001. In just a short time she has learnt a new language, trained in a brand new career, set up her own business, won national design awards and studied at Central TAFE.
The Diploma of Jewellery Design student originally trained as a nurse in her native Japan before coming to Australia and securing work as a technical jeweller in a pearl wholesale company.
Her passion for the industry was cemented in a unique opportunity in 2003. Michiyo was given a chance by her company to go out pearl seeding. This is a complex process aimed at keeping pearls developing smoothly to minimise blemishes.
Michiyo developed her own wholesale business, KIKU Pearls, in 2007 which provided an income, while enabling her to build on her skills at Central TAFE. She commenced a Certificate IV Art & Design (Jewellery) as a part time student and is currently completing her Diploma of Jewellery Design at the college’s Perth campus.
Honours have been steadily coming her way with Michiyo recently winning the national AGR Matthey Next Generation Jewellery Design Competition. These prestigious awards recognise innovation and excellence from Australia’s up-coming jewellery designers.
She also had her work exhibited in the 2009 ‘designEx’ Exhibition in Melbourne.
“I’ve always loved jewellery and through Central TAFE I have learned the skills and techniques to bring my ideas to life,” said Michiyo.
“Through my work and involvement with the Japanese community here in WA, I feel I am now in a unique position to offer guidance, information and inspiration to my fellow students who have come from overseas.”
Speaking at the presentation ceremony Central TAFE Managing Director Neil Fernandes said that the students exemplified the amazing results dedication can bring.
“Our student winners illustrate what can be achieved through hard work. Their achievements and bright futures are testament to the healthy state of vocational education and training in WA,” he said.