STA graduation ceremony 2017 |07 July 2017
Danio Vidot clinches President’s Cup
Danio Vidot is the proud recipient of the President’ Cup in the Seychelles Tourism Academy (STA) graduation ceremony held yesterday at the International Conference Centre (ICCS).
Danio followed a two-year Advanced Certificate course in Tourism and Tour Guiding.
The President’s Cup is awarded to a student from professional centres who have been exceptional in his/her studies; actively participated in school activities; has been exemplary to other students and also been an ambassador for their institution.
Graduated students received certificates in Restaurant and Bar; Food Preparation & Culinary Arts; Accommodation Operations & Services and Reception Operations & Services. As for advanced courses, there were Advanced Certificates in Restaurant & Bar; Food Preparation & Culinary Arts; Wellness and Spa; Reception Operations & Services and in Tourism & Tour Guiding and Advanced Diploma in Hospitality Management.
Other prestigious awardsincluded the Seychelles National Youth Council (SNYC) award for a student who has exercised exemplary behaviour; the Special Mention Award for the Advanced Diploma in Hospitality Management (ADHM) for the student who stood out best among others in general behaviour and the Minister’s Cup for the student who has proven exemplary working skills in the tourism industry.
Angelica Orphe, who followed a two-year course in Advanced Certificate in Tourism and Tour Guiding, won the SNYC award; the ADHM award went to Deidre Waye-Hive who followed a two-year course in Advanced Diploma in that area and the Minister’s Cup went to Chris Young-Kon.
There were also certificates of merit for Best Academic and Best Practical Performers and for Best Efforts at both certificate and advanced levels.
Present at the graduation ceremony were Designated Minister Macsuzy Mondon, who also presented the President’s Cup; Joel Morgan, Minister for Education and Human Resource Development; Maurice Loustau-Lalanne, Minister for Tourism, Civil Aviation, Ports and Marine, who also presented the Minister’s Cup; Wallace Cosgrow, Minister for Employment, Entrepreneurship Development and Business Innovation; Dr Philip Smyth, director for Hotel Management of Shannon College of Ireland with which the academy is associated for its ADHM degree courses; Claude Narain, Patron of STA; Flavien Joubert, principal of STA; other distinguished guests, sponsors, parents and family members of the graduates.
“My journey through STA was not an easy one. I had to persevere, put lots of effort, had to be able to face any situation and needed a lot of support for me to be able to achieve what I have achieved today. I am very happy about the prize and I was not expecting it. But all my hard work and efforts have paid off,” Danio said.
He also mentioned his family’s support along the way – his mum, dad and sister who helped him with his studies.
Danio is currently employed with Sri Lankan Airlines in Seychelles.
Mr Joubert said the second cohort of students in hospitality management will proceed to Shannon College to follow their Bachelor’s Degree in Hotel Management next month.
He told the graduates they should feel privileged of the first hand lectures, coaching, mentoring by professional lecturers and professionals from the trade and even on work attachments in the tourism sectors and of attachments at Constance Academy in Mauritius.
“I call upon you to set growth objectives for yourselves and be pro-active in your roles for your continuous growth and success in your career. Graduates I call upon you to build on your personalities and develop a highly professional presence in your workplace to deliver an excellent service to your guests with this wonderful Seychellois smile and Seychellois courtesy,” he said.
He also mentioned the success stories of the academy like its association with 20 colleges in 15 cities; all their 10 courses being validated by the Seychelles Qualification Authority and its 10th year anniversary this year under the same ministry and same principal.
Dr Smyth said Shannon College is proud of the college’s contributions towards STA’s achievements. And that its role is to assist the development of the ADHM at the academy in accordance with the Seychelles 2017 Strategic Plan which sets the objective of creating a country of young Seychellois managers who would gradually assume management positions at any level in the tourism industry, by having a degree level qualification.
He said this has been achieved as a total of 51 students have graduated with the ADHM degree while they are going on to be confirmed with honours degrees in international hotel management at the college in Ireland.
“Graduates you are important in the tourism industry,” he told them.
Anair Malulu, an Advanced Certificate graduate and Kerry Anne Gonzalves, and ADHM one, had a vote of thanks on behalf of their colleagues.
The event was animated by poem and songs from the students and teachers themselves.
