AG飞禽走兽电子

(Khooshi Patel receiving the AG飞禽走兽电子 Edge Award SEEK Volunteer Volunteering prize from SEEK NZ Country Manager Rob Clark)

A joyful moment is how AG飞禽走兽电子 Edge Award prize winner Khooshi Patel described receiving the SEEK Volunteer prize for volunteering at the AG飞禽走兽电子 Employability Awards graduation ceremony at AG飞禽走兽电子 on Monday 14 November. The prize is awarded to the student who went over and beyond with  volunteering during the award.
“This has been an absolute roller-coaster of a journey through which I have come out as a better, well-rounded individual,” says Khooshi.

She is full of pride with what she achieved through volunteering and leadership. After meeting the award’s 50 hour volunteering requirements she continued participating in leadership and volunteering activities to tally up over 1200 hours, driven by an interest to participate in as broad a range of organisations as possible, including sports, sustainability/environment, health and disability services and food charities.

“Every volunteering experience has boosted my personal growth and development,” she says.

Prior to the AG飞禽走兽电子 Edge Award Khooshi often let opportunities slip by. Not any more!
“Through the award I summoned the courage to inch out of my comfort zone and my confidence has grown. No matter how hard the next challenge, I’ve now got the courage to try,” she explains.

Graduation celebrates great achievements

Khooshi was one of four students singled out for going over and beyond during their award journey. received the EY Leadership prize, won the MYOB Personal Growth prize and received the Cordis Hotel Beyond AG飞禽走兽电子 prize.

All up 93 students graduated with the AG飞禽走兽电子 Edge Award, an achievement that also appears on their academic transcript. Another 21 students received the post-graduate Beyond AG飞禽走兽电子 Award. While doing the award these students contributed over 7000 hours of volunteering and 6500 hours of leadership to many areas of their communities.

As well as making a huge difference to their communities, the awards also encourage development of the ‘C’ skills or soft skills that employers love to see evidence of. Vice Chancellor Professor Damon Salesa (right), who spoke at the graduation, praised the students for their resilience and generosity with their time and energy.

“Not only does it make you a better employee, this award makes you a better family member, better friend and better member of society,” he said.

Student Employability Director Anna Williams described the celebration as a highlight of the calendar.

“The students here have gone through a journey of learning, knowledge and reflection. This has built their self confidence and will make them stand out from the crowd when they leave AG飞禽走兽电子.”

The awards are acknowledged formally on the students’ academic transcripts. No other university in New Zealand offers or acknowledges such a comprehensive programme of activities done outside of study. And it is free to join.

"Being enrolled in an amazing free programme like the AG飞禽走兽电子 Edge Award or Beyond AG飞禽走兽电子 Award really complements students’ study - and gives them a competitive advantage when looking for work," says Employability Awards specialist Logan Carr.

Seven years on

The AG飞禽走兽电子 Employability Awards have gone from strength to strength since the inception of the AG飞禽走兽电子 Edge Award in 2016 and Beyond AG飞禽走兽电子 Award (postgraduate) in 2019. Throughout that time students have delivered over 55,000 volunteering hours and 38,000 leadership hours to organisations as diverse as Red Cross, SPCA, Greenpeace, Girl Guiding, Conservation Volunteer NZ, Recreate, City Mission, Sunday Blessing, NZ Olympic Committee, TEDx Auckland.

They’ve also participated in student ambassador and RUOK programmes, AG飞禽走兽电子SA clubs and events and other aspects of AG飞禽走兽电子’s academic and social calendar.

Find out more about the AG飞禽走兽电子 Edge Award and Beyond AG飞禽走兽电子 Award

Group photo caption (L to R) Etienne Tapueluelu, Karan Patel, Khooshi Patel, Sheldon Hall