News

Brenton Stacey
Public relations officer

Imogen Menzies and Charles Muirhead received large year-end bonuses at the student academic awards forum on Avondale College's Lake Macquarie campus this past Wednesday (November 4).

The two received $1500 each for winning Avondale's top award, the Sanitarium Health Food Company Prize of Excellence, and joined four other students as winners of multiple awards.

Imogen, completing a Bachelor of Arts/Bachelor of Business, also received the Adventist Media Network Journalism Prize, which she shared with Connections editorial assistant Linden Chuang ($500 each). Charles also received the Bachelor of Business prize ($1000)-he is an accounting and management major.

Other multiple winners included Justin Bone, Michael Chapman, Katie Page and Tessa Vogel. Justin shared the Clifford Anderson Bursary Prize with Stephen Ward ($1000 each) and the Elwin Currow Prize for New Testament Apocalyptic with Michael ($100 each), both fellow theology and ministry classmate. Michael also received the Bill Marr Institute of Public Evangelism Prize ($1000). Communication major Katie Page received the Adventist Media Network Digital Media Prize ($1000) and shared the top Bachelor of Arts prize with Kent Kingston ($500 each). Tessa won the top Bachelor of Education (secondary) and Bachelor of Science prizes ($1600 in total).

A mature age student who left a good job in Dubbo in regional New South Wales to move with his family to Cooranbong, Charles remembers feeling nervous on registration day. "I kept asking myself, Why are you doing this?" His advice to other students: "Don't forget your past but keep a sharp, solid focus on the future. Commit completely." Imogen stresses the importance of following your calling, working hard and remaining loyal to your values. "Do what you enjoy to the best of your ability and don't compromise yourself," she says.

Avondale will announce the third recipient of the Prize of Excellence during the consecration service on the Sydney campus over the graduation weekend.

Choose the "Academic Awards" link on the Connections homepage for the names of all winners.
www.avondale.edu.au/connections

Caption: Emma Weslake hugs Gaylene Heise following the student academic awards forum. Emma received a $1000 communication prize for theology students named in honour of Edna Heise in memory of her contribution as a writer and speaker.
Credit: Ann Stafford