Frog Recruitment proudly supporting AIS St Helens Graduates

FROG RECRUITMENT Merit Award for High Achievement in the Bachelor of International Business Programme

Yosy PRAWITA
Yosy doesn’t say a lot, but is extremely capable and goes about her work with diligence and thoughtfulness. She gets on with things without fuss or fanfare. In the words of one of her lecturers, “a sweet, intelligent young woman who works hard, is enthusiastic to learn new things, and gets things done.”

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Katrina Tolomaki from Frog Recruitment presenting Osaiasi Takau with his award

Frog Recruitment Merit Award for an Outstanding High Achiever in the Bachelor of International Business Programme Awarded to: Osaiasi TAKAU

Osaiasi came from Tonga National Centre for Vocational Studies (NCVS) under an AIS St Helens scholarship to commemorate the Coronation of His Majesty King George V, (Coronation year 2008). Osaiasi was selected in Tonga because he was the ‘dux’ of our sister school in Tonga NCVS in 2007. Not only is he a scholar, he is also well known amongst the Tonga youth groups in Tonga as  a Mormon missionary – he spent two years (2004-2006) working as a missionary in Salt lake City in the USA. He was equally known in the rugby field (No. 8) as a Tongan representative player for the Tonga Under 20 which played against NZ, South Africa and Australia in 2003. Now that he has got his Business degree, his ambition is to play serious rugby now, to become a representative rugby player in Auckland,  and aim at the Tonga national Rugby team ‘Ikale Tahi’ for the RWC 2011. Osaiasi is the outgoing President of our MPI Association here in AIS St Helens. He and his wife are expecting their first child, a baby son next month.

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PRESS RELEASE:

At the largest graduation ceremony in the institution’s 20 year history, 221 graduates received their certificates, diplomas, bachelor and master’s degrees at in a well-attended, vibrant and multi-cultural ceremony at the Bruce Mason Centre in Takapuna on Monday 13 September.

After the traditional processions into the auditorium of staff and graduands in their colourful robes, a traditional Maori ‘powhiri’ (welcome) initiated the formal proceedings.  The President, Dr Richard Goodall, noted that the number of degree and higher diploma graduates had risen steadily over the years with only seven in 1995, 98 in the year 2000, 218 in 2005, and a total of 450 this year.

In his address the CEO, Mr John Wood, in congratulating the graduands on their success, reminded them that they were supported by family, friends and faculty and challenged them to define their dreams, continue to develop themselves in an ever-changing world, seize opportunities and use the precious commodity of time wisely.
Mr David Shearer, member of parliament for Mt Albert where the two campuses of the institution are located, was guest speaker and he warmly congratulated the graduands on their achievements and highlighted that their qualifications gave them the potential to not only improve the lives of themselves and their families, but to make a contribution to the well-being of global communities. He urged them to take some risks so that in later life they would not regret opportunities and challenges they had not taken up.

The Academic Registrar, Mr Richard Smith, formally confirmed the eligibility of the candidates for their respective qualifications spanning Hospitality, Arts, Tourism Management, International Business, Information technology and Business Administration.  The awards were then conferred by the President.  The new graduates were then individually announced on stage by their Head of Programme and the Academic Director, Dr Mike Roberts, and congratulated by the President, CEO and guest speaker.

The Academic Director announced the AIS St Helens Top Scholar and Enterprise Award winners, and representatives from Westpac, Southern Cross Travel Insurance, Frog Recruitment and Ezi World Cargo presented an additional seven sponsored awards.

Valedictorians Sarina Pereira (PGDipIB) and Kalilea Fahiua (BTM) spoke on behalf of all the graduates and expressed gratitude for the support of family and friends, and thanked all members of staff, especially teachers, for helping them grow and achieve their goals in life.  Juanita Helg, General Manager of Telelink, an alumna of the institute (2006), gave a brief address highlighting how her AIS St Helens qualification had assisted her achieve success, and urged all graduates to pursue their goals with passion.

Following the formal proceedings, an enjoyable reception, including the cutting of a very large graduation cake, enabled people to mix socially and provided further opportunities for photographs capturing the happy and very important day in so many people’s lives.