Murihiku Tertiary Academy topped off another successful year last week, with around 320 people attending the 2023 graduation in Hansen Hall at SIT | Te Pūkenga Invercargill Campus.
Up on last year’s numbers (193), from a total of 222 graduates, 114 students walked across the stage to receive their certificate from SIT Operations Lead, Daryl Haggerty, in front of an audience of staff, friends, family, and whanau, on Monday 27 November.
16 graduates from across Southland secondary schools also took away ‘Top Student’ awards, which represent the success of students who have excelled throughout the year. The tertiary academy encompasses a wide variety of fields, including building, mechanical and electrical trades, as well as beauty, hairdressing, digital design, game and animation, music and audio, animal care, agriculture, fitness, nursing, health and support services and the hospitality sector.
Students attend the tertiary academy one day each week, studying vocational programmes in Invercargill, Gore, and Balclutha, which allows them to test out different career opportunities while completing NCEA at high school.
Murihiku Tertiary Academy Co-ordinator, Trudy Brown, said the celebrations “highlighted the collaboration between SIT | Te Pūkenga, secondary schools across Southland, and the valued efforts of SIT staff.” It also displays the influence the academy has in helping break down barriers to equity in learning opportunities. “SIT are very pleased with the academy’s growth and the continued increase in numbers,” Ms Brown said.