On 19 August Qantas hosted the AIEF Class of 2019 Year 12 Graduation Ceremony and Celebration event. AIEF Scholarship Students from Partner Schools across Australia gathered to celebrate their achievements in front of an audience of their peers, teachers, AIEF Mentors, AIEF Ambassadors and Board Members, representatives of AIEF Corporate Partners and founding members of the AIEF Nation Changers Syndicate.
AIEF Alum Bernard Kelly (Melbourne Grammar School, 2013) hosted the graduation ceremony, sharing his journey from Darwin to attending boarding school in Melbourne and his achievements since completing school and university.
AIEF Scholarship Student Tamarla Bell from St Vincents College, Potts Point shared her boarding school experiences on behalf of the Class of 2019 and AIEF Alum Dennis Nona Ahmat (The Cathedral School, 2013) encouraged students to be true to themselves.
The Class of 2019 Graduation Celebration was held later in the evening where AIEF Alum Neerim Callope (St Augustines, 2010) was the Master of Ceremonies. He opened the proceedings by inviting guests to welcome the AIEF Class of 2019 as they made their entrance on the red carpet. Yvonne Weldon from the Metropolitan Aboriginal Land Council delivered a Welcome to Country before CEO and Managing Director of Qantas Airways Limited and AIEF Ambassador Alan Joyce AC addressed the crowd.
AIEF Scholarship Student Harry Doolan (The Cathedral School) and AIEF-BHP Scholarship Student Eliza Shaw (Presbyterian Ladies College, Perth) spoke about their educational journeys and the importance of resilience to guests including AIEF Patron Professor the Honourable Dame Marie Bashir AD CVO.
Neerims father Djunagur Callope spoke about the impact of his sons education, and Jonas Bennell and Angus Lane from Wesley College, South Perth gave an inspiring didgeridoo performance. AIEF Executive Director Andrew Penfold AM closed the official proceedings, thanking guests and all of AIEFs supporters, and reminding the Class of 2019 about the significance of their achievements.
The event was a great opportunity to celebrate the important milestone of Year 12 completion and take the first steps in supporting students on their journeys from school to careers.
