UCOL BLOG

The 2010 recipient of the Doyle Glass Acquisition Prize is Sam Swinburne, a graduating student from the Whanganui UCOL Diploma in Glass Design and Production programme.

Sam receives $1,000 from Doyle and Associates the Accountants in Whanganui, who acquire the winning piece titled Simply Vessel, into the Doyle Corporate Collection.

Sam describes the fused and slumped glass piece as reminiscent of a seafaring vessel, “It also has enclosed space which makes it a vessel in glass terminology. It depicts a balance between harmony and dynamic movement.”

This is the sixth year the Doyle Acquisition Prize has been awarded. Matthew Doyle of Doyle and Associates said “I have always admired the work of glass students at Whanganui UCOL and believe what they produce is fantastic. Offering the acquisition prize means that both parties benefit – Doyle and Associates are building a great collection of student glass work, and the students are financially rewarded and professionally recognized for their efforts.”

Twenty six year old Sam will graduate from UCOL early next year. He plans to set up his own glass studio and become full time glass artist.

UCOL Glass Tutor Nigel Jones says Simply Vessel is a very impressive piece and certainly will stand side by side with the professional art-based glass currently being exhibited in New Zealand and overseas.

Whanganui UCOL Bachelor of Fine Arts student Simonne Baillie, has been named as a recipient of a Ronald Woolf Memorial Trust grant, to be
used towards her photographic study.

Next year Simonne will be entering Year 3 of the BFA, majoring in photography. She admits she struggled to choose her major as she also has strong interest in painting printmaking.

The Whanganui born 22 year old won the $500 grant with an extensive portfolio of “alternative portraiture” images. “I like to mix traditional darkroom techniques with digital imaging,” she says. “My work combines the old with the new.”

Read More: “UCOL Photography student snares Woolf grant”…

The School of Business at Whanganui UCOL will hold their annual Awards Ceremony on Thursday 16 December 2010 at UCOL Atrium in Rutland Street.

The event is regarded as an opportunity for the School, families and local businesses to acknowledge students studying on the Business Management, Business Administration, Business Computing and Tertiary Studies programmes for their effort, academic achievements and determination.

“Building and maintaining relationships with local businesses has been the key to the success of our Awards ceremony” said Blaise Graves, Programme Leader of Business.  “Without the help and support of the following local businesses; National Bank, New Zealand Institute of Chartered Accountants (NZICA), Wanganui Chamber of Commerce and Industry, Bates Watchmakers, Wanganui District Health Board (IT), TCL Communications, Horsley Christie Lawyers, the AAPNZ and Office Max, the Awards Ceremony would not be possible,” she says.

The businesses donate a prize, gift or monetary contribution to the Awards Ceremony and are acknowledged in printed material at the Awards event and the 2011 Graduation programme.

For further information about the event or future sponsorship, contact Business Studies Academic Administrator Jeanette Talbot on (06) 965-3801 ext 60857 or email at j.talbot@ucol.ac.nz.

The Whanganui UCOL Fitness Centre has fulfilled its purpose to assist sport and exercise students with their studies.  The Fitness Centre was established as an educational gym almost twenty years ago and has enjoyed strong and positive links with the community.

Sport and exercise students are no longer dependant on the Whanganui UCOL Fitness Centre as part of their programme due to the introduction of new educational delivery modes using the internet. This makes it possible to have common educational delivery on all three UCOL campuses, including the educational components previously provided by access to the UCOL Fitness Centre, while avoiding expensive duplication.

Whanganui UCOL Principal Julia Pedley said: “This change has led us to the point where the UCOL Fitness Centre will have to operate under a commercial model rather than an educational one.  Running commercial gyms is not UCOL’s area of expertise and unfortunately the Fitness Centre has been running at a loss financially which we can’t continue to sustain.

Read More: “UCOL Fitness Centre Role Fulfilled”…