Tertiary education stars on the road to fame

23 March 2005
Tertiary education stars on the road to fame

Three performing arts students had their names up in lights this morning when they were presented with Rotary Goal Setter Awards by the Associate Minister of Foreign Affairs and Trade Marian Hobbs.

Sponsored by the Tertiary Education Commission (TEC), the Rotary Goal Setter Awards recognise and reward outstanding individuals from the Wellington region for their capacity to set goals and overcome barriers to achieve success in tertiary education and training.

This year’s winners have demonstrated excellence in performing arts, which includes dance, drama, music, singing and related fields.

Speaking at the event, TEC Acting Chair Kaye Turner said the winners exemplified the kind of success people can achieve when they set goals and work hard to achieve them.

“This year’s Goal Setter Award winners have all demonstrated commitment to learning. More than that they have demonstrated tenacity, commitment, and drive to overcome barriers and hardships to reach their goals – an excellent achievement,” Kaye Turner said.

“The performing arts industry has strong links with tertiary education. There are genuine careers in the arts and close interaction between the industry and tertiary providers. This is exactly the kind of collaboration the TEC is promoting,” Kaye Turner said.

Each winner received an award signed by the Prime Minister and a cash prize of $2,000 to help them further their studies.

The Goal Setter Award winners for 2005 are:

Denise Walker Denise is in her second year of an Advanced Certificate in Commercial Dance at the Wellington Performing Arts Centre.

Denise says that the course and all the opportunities it has opened up for her has helped her to overcome a recently diagnosed health condition. “This course has changed my life. These opportunities have opened my eyes to a whole new world. Through determination (and probably stubbornness!) I am finally knocking down some hurdles and gaining more confidence as I go along”, said Denise.

One of Denise’s greatest achievements was recently being chosen to be an extra in a character role in the Royal New Zealand Ballet’s Wellington Season of Coppelia.

Yvette Reid After studying for three years towards a Bachelor of Arts majoring in drama at the University of Waikato, Yvette successfully auditioned for a place at Toi Whakaari: New Zealand Drama School where she is now in her third year of a Bachelor of Arts in Performing Arts (Acting).

Yvette overcome significant hardships and adversity during her childhood to get to where she is today, but says that the progress she has made since then has made her appreciate the fact that success is something you cannot take for granted. “I am very proud of the individual goals I have achieved up to this point and the goals I am still pursuing, I am proud of the wonderful people I surround myself with and the positive woman I have become”, said Yvette.

Yvette’s goals for the future include writing and directing her own play, acting in a television drama, performing in a touring children’s theatre show – to name a few.

Deborah Rea Deborah is in her second year of a Diploma of Performing Arts (Acting) at the Wellington Performing Arts Centre. The performing arts has been a saviour for Deborah – enabling her to gain the strength and courage to release her from a traumatic childhood.

On completion of her diploma in New Zealand, Deborah intends to use the Goal Setter Award to further her studies abroad. She is currently developing her own entertainment company, specialising in unique performance art and creative, educational performance for children.

Deborah is also devising her own form of physical theatre, which combines elements of Middle-Eastern performance with European and Maori influences.

ENDS

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