This week, we announced the 19 student winners in this year’s Gordon Awards for Excellence held at the Geelong Arts Centre.
The Gordon Awards for Excellence recognise students who have achieved top standards and demonstrated exceptional dedication to training, leadership and community engagement.
In front of a packed theatre, winners of two major awards, three special recognition awards and 14 topic-based awards were celebrated.
Alicia Martin took out top honours, being awarded the Student of the Year for her achievements while studying the Advanced Diploma of Building Design (Architectural).
Alicia came to The Gordon to retrain in Building Design as a mature-aged student having previously served as a member of Victoria Police. After a workplace injury, Alicia considered new opportunities and chose to follow her father’s footsteps in architecture.
“My father worked as an architect/building designer for nearly 60 years. From a young age, he instilled a strong appreciation for the built environment in me. My fondest memories spent with him were sitting on his lap at his drawing board or visiting sites and holding a staff while he took measurements, Alicia said.
“I have always been naturally creative but have found it difficult to channel it successfully as I am also deeply analytical and strive in a structured environment. Building design gives me a creative outlet that has boundaries as I am required to work around strict regulations which require me to tap into my problem-solving skills. It has given me something I really love to focus on, giving me purpose and direction.“
Alicia also won the Design Excellence Award.
The Apprentice of the Year award was given to Horticulturist Simon Berry for his achievements in studying Certificate III in Parks and Gardens.
Simon said his “dream was always to secure ongoing employment at the Geelong Botanic Gardens as a horticulturist” which he now has achieved.
“Horticulture has always been my passion (with an interest in bonsai and Niwaki since my teenage years), so I thoroughly enjoyed the opportunity of studying under the tutelage of Course coordinator Tony Hughes and John Mitchell, both of whom are a wealth of knowledge and an asset to The Gordon,” Simon said.
“I am still amazed that I get paid to do something I absolutely love. I will be forever thankful to The Gordon.”
Simon also won the Natural Environment & Science Excellence Award.
Chief Executive Officer for The Gordon, Joe Ormeno said “These awards recognise the commitment and perseverance to succeed. To be named a finalist amongst the more than 11,500 students that studied at The Gordon in 2024 is an outstanding achievement.”
“These students, apprentices, and trainees represent the best of The Gordon — a diverse, talented, and determined group of learners who set out to achieve something more.”
“Demonstrating more than academic excellence, these students are people to watch; they are high-achievers in the community and the classroom. Many have overcome challenges and unforeseen obstacles with determination and grit, or had the courage to take on a different pathway mid career.”
He said the quality of applications was “impressive”, and the competition “fiercely contested”, noting all finalists should be proud of their achievements.
A total of 42 finalists were acknowledged for their outstanding contributions while studying at The Gordon.
Winner: Alicia Martin
Finalists: Mary Brodie and Shinay Grobler
Sponsored by:
Deakin University
Winner: Simon Berry
Finalists: Benjamin Anderson and Lauren Mortensen
Sponsored by:
Gforce
Winner: Lauren Mortensen
Finalists: Emily Doyle and Brayden Morse
Sponsored by:
Geelong Manufacturing Council
Winner: Thomas Bergamin
Finalists: Paul Salter and Zachary Ward Tangey
Sponsored by:
Geelong Chamber of Commerce
Winner: Kian Mel Vincent Gonzales
Finalists: Daniel Cruz and Noah Tana
Sponsored by:
MEGT
Winner: Shinay Grobler
Finalists: Tayla Mason and Caleb Tilders
Sponsored by:
Leura Park Estate
Winner: Alicia Martin
Finalists: Sarah Riley-Pantchenko and Carolyn Salkeld
Sponsored by:
Print Design
Winner: Eliane Saliba
Finalists: Nicholas Bufalo and Maureen Ktzyzanski
Sponsored by:
Geelong Tech School
Winner: Benjamin Anderson
Finalists: Thomas Egan and Jiangting Wang
Sponsored by:
Middy’s Electrical
Winner: Simon Berry
Finalists: Cecelia Herreen and Luis Mangubat
Sponsored by:
Barwon Water
Winner: Mary Brodie
Finalists: Sally Geddes and Madison Lewis
Sponsored by:
Skills and Jobs Centre
Winner: Lachlan Fletcher
Finalists: Annabelle Latrobe and Leanne Ward
Sponsored by:
The Studio at The Gordon
Winner: Oubonlat Khaykhamphithoun
Finalists: Yechan Kim and Qi Mun Wong
Sponsored by:
International, The Gordon
Winner: Will Martin-Alcaide
Finalists: Anastasia Sharkey and Alexandra Mavis Watt
Sponsored by:
Victorian Group Training
Winner: Zechariah Horvath
Finalists: Claudia Gifford and Leonie Tromba
Sponsored by:
McHarrys Buslines
Winner: Georgie Collins
Finalists: Jessica Galea and Rory Smith
Sponsored by:
Geelong Connected Communities
Winner: Zachary Ward Tangey
Sponsored by:
Geelong Connected Communities
Winner: Shirley Darcy
Sponsored by:
Cultura
Winner: Yechan Kim
Sponsored by:
Skilling the Bay
A special thanks to our major sponsors, Deakin University and GForce and all our supporting sponsors who have kindly contributed to this event. They are: Barwon Water, Cultura, Geelong Chamber of Commerce, Geelong Connected Communities, Geelong Manufacturing Council, Geelong Tech School, Leura Park Estate, McHarrys Buslines, MEGT, Middy’s Electrical, Print Design, Skilling the Bay, Skills and Jobs Centre, The Studio and Victorian Group Training.