Joy at young enterprise award glory

INNOVATION: The RARE (Recycled and Reused Enterprises) ring binder covers made from recycled cloth and denim, which also include jean pockets to hold pens and cellphones. The product won the RARE team a Young Enterprise Scheme award and third prize overall at an awards ceremony in Palmerston North on Wednesday. PHOTO/SUPPLIED

Makoura college students have captured the spotlight as members of a Young Enterprise Scheme award-winning team alongside fellow Wairarapa students at the U-Skills graduation ceremony in Palmerston North.

U-Skills manager Jacqui Phillips said more than 200 secondary school students had been eligible to take the stage as graduates at the ceremony, which was held at the Regent Theatre, including numerous students from Wairarapa who had completed a diverse range of U-Skills Central School Academy courses run at both the UCOL Wairarapa campus in Masterton and the UCOL Palmerston North campus.

She said two Makoura College students also were part of the RARE (Recycled and Reused Enterprises) business administration course team comprising students from schools in Wairarapa, Otaki, Taihape and Palmerston North that won the Manawatu regional BioCommerce Centre Choice Award at the Young Enterprise Scheme awards ceremony held at the Wharerata Function Centre at Massey University on Wednesday night.

She said the RARE team had developed covers for classroom ring binders made from recycled cloth and jeans, which featured pockets to hold pens, cell phones and other equipment.

The Government trade academy - U-Skills Central School Academy - allows secondary school age students to be enrolled at both their secondary school and with a tertiary training provider, Ms Phillips said, and the scheme was in its third year.

The team also won third place overall in the Young Enterprise Scheme with their innovative product and team-work, she said.

Ms Phillips said U-Skills training runs for a day a week at UCOL in Palmerston North or Wanganui, Horowhenua and Wairarapa with students spending the remaining study days each week at their own schools studying towards NCEA.

Ms Phillips said U-Skills study programmes were free and transport to and from classes was funded.

There had been two courses run in Masterton including an automotive scheme and hairdressing, fashion and beauty, she said, and Wairarapa students had also travelled to Palmerston North and completed classes in graphics and design, applied engineering, and health science.

She said Wairarapa students had also been part of a business administration team in Palmerston North that had made a shortlist for a Young Enterprise Award.

She said there had been 17 U-Skill programmes from which students had graduated after travelling to attend classes from as far afield as Waiouru, Otaki, Wanganui and Wairarapa. Three major awards were made to students who had also maintained high levels of achievement and leadership, dedication and improvement, Ms Phillips said.