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Top EIT researcher wins award from international organisation | EIT Hawke’s Bay and Tairāwhiti

Source: Eastern Institute of Technology – Tairāwhiti

7 mins ago

EIT Associate Professor Pii-Tuulia Nikula, has been awarded a prestigious Associate Editor of the Year award.

A top EIT researcher, Associate Professor Pii-Tuulia Nikula, has been awarded a prestigious Associate Editor of the Year award by the Higher Education Research and Development Society of Australasia (HERDSA).

Pii-Tuulia is well known for her research on management, policy, and sustainability issues in international education, higher education, and the private sector.

Last year she co-edited two books – Student Recruitment Agents in International Higher Education and Sustainable Education Abroad: Striving for Change.

Pii-Tuulia is also an active peer-reviewer and holds editorial roles in international journals. She has contributed to the work of Higher Education Research and Development since 2019, initially as part of the College of Reviewers, and then, as an Associate Editor from 2020 onwards.

The Higher Education Research and Development Society of Australasia announced last month that Pii-Tuulia is one of two recipients of the Associate Editor of the Year Award for 2023. The other winner was Sylvie Lomer of the University of Manchester in the UK.

The award was established to recognise the outstanding contribution made by the Associate Editors of HERD. Contributions of associate editors are assessed according to the following criteria: Timeliness, Commitment, Decision making, Quality of communication with authors and with the HERD editorial team.

Pii-Tuulia said that she was honoured to be recognised for her work by such an esteemed organisation.

“Over the years, I’ve had the opportunity to work with numerous HERD authors, reviewers, and editorial board members, all passionate about making contributions to the field of higher education.”

“I am pleased to be able to play a role in ensuring these articles are published and contributing to the continuing success of HERD as a leading academic forum that informs and challenges researchers, administrators, and policy-makers concerned with the past, present and future of higher education.”

At EIT, Pii-Tuulia teaches courses in sustainable organisations and research methods.

Gareth Allison, EIT’s Head of the School of Business, congratulated Pii-Tuulia on the award.

“Pii-Tuulia is one of our most prolific and active researchers and this award is a testament to the high regard with which she is held in the industry.”

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EIT offers study opportunities with Year 13 Scholarships | EIT Hawke’s Bay and Tairāwhiti

Source: Eastern Institute of Technology – Tairāwhiti

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6 mins ago

The Year 13 Scholarship, which is offered annually by EIT, covers one year of tuition fees.

EIT is once again offering students (ākonga) in their last year of school the opportunity to apply for a limited number of Year-13 scholarships to study their chosen career.

The Year 13 Scholarship, which is offered annually by EIT, covers one year of tuition fees.

The Scholarship supports school leavers across the Hawke’s Bay and Tairāwhiti regions to study any one of EIT’s degrees or selected level 5  diploma programmes that lead into a degree by providing one year FREE study. Students who live outside the region may be eligible for the scholarship in some programmes that are available nationwide.

EIT Liaison Advisor MacKenzie Ninomiya says the scholarship offers school students in Hawke’s Bay and Tairāwhiti the opportunity to remain at home and study what they are interested in.

“Some of our students are still surprised that they can study a degree locally. We’ve got some really specialised degrees which are well-renowned across the country.”

“Examples of this are our Bachelor of Viticulture and Wine Science; our Bachelor of Māori Visual Arts, which is based at Toihoukura in Tairāwhiti; or our Bachelor of Veterinary Nursing.”

“We’ve got some degrees that are open to students nationwide, but primarily we want to focus on our Hawke’s Bay and Tairāwhiti students to keep them local.”

MacKenzie says that not only is it cheaper for students, because they can live at home, but they also have the wraparound support from whānau, which helps them succeed. They also benefit from a lower student loan at the end of the degree.

Applications close on 27 September and more information can be found at https://www.eit.ac.nz/students/year13scholarship/. To register interest in the Year 13 Scholarship email yr13@eit.ac.nz.

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Concerns with health and safety approach at Lyttelton Port Company

Source: Maritime Union of New Zealand

The Maritime Union of New Zealand says it has concerns about the approach of the Lyttelton Port Company (LPC) to mandatory fitness tests.

The concerns come after the sentencing of LPC in July 2024, following the death of MUNZ member Don Grant while loading coal on the ETG Aquarius in April 2022.

LPC pleaded guilty in November 2023 to one charge under the Health and Safety at Work Act 2015 brought by industry regulator Maritime NZ.

Maritime Union National Secretary Carl Findlay says workers have welcomed the guilty plea and sentencing, but have concerns about the current approach of LPC to listening to its workers.

Mr Findlay says a lot has changed since the tragic death of Mr Grant, a friend and much loved colleague at Lyttelton.

“This is not only in work practices involving coal operations, but in Management and Governance and the relationships between LPC and Unions.”

Mr Findlay says LPC has many new members on the Board and a new Chair Barry Bragg.

LPC also have their third CEO in a short time in Graham Sumner, following the resignation of former CEO Kirstie Gardener and interim CEO Jim Quinn.

Mr Findlay says LPC have now announced a new mandatory fitness for work program for all employees.

He says this has been pushed through without regard to workers concerns over their financial protection and wellbeing of any members who fail the assessment, with the ultimate result of people losing employment if they don’t meet the standard. 

“In short, MUNZ see this as a breach of good faith and LPC not honouring our Collective Employment Agreement.”

Mr Findlay says the Union is agreeable to fitness for work health monitoring, but want LPC to negotiate in good faith.

He says LPC are imposing a fitness for work test and the consultation process was not working.

“MUNZ is very concerned how the death of a worker has been used to implement new policies without bringing along workers and listening to their voices.” 

Mr Findlay says workforce morale is sinking with a lack of commitment shown towards LPC by some Council leaders, and the ongoing churn of management and Board members.

“Former LPC CEOs Roger Gray and Kirstie Gardener took part in open engagement with the unions, and LPC container terminal was the 35th best performing terminal out of the top 415 terminals in the world.”

“Unfortunately, with ongoing changes at the top and a less open approach by Management,  LPC container terminal has now dropped to 385 in the list of the top 415 terminals in the world.”

MUNZ and LPC are attending mediation on 16 August on the issue of health monitoring.

“We are confident we can find a way forward with not only LPC, but also CCHL who manage LPC on behalf of Christchurch City Council.”

MUNZ is committed to ensuring the safety and wellbeing of not only our members, but all workers in the port of Lyttelton, says Mr Findlay.

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Finance Minister needs to explain ferry decision cost to taxpayer

Source: Maritime Union of New Zealand

The Maritime Union of New Zealand says the cancellation cost for the iRex ship build is likely to come in at more than NZ $300 million, and could run up to a maximum cost approaching a half a billion dollars (NZD) at current rates. 

This would be on top of around a half a billion NZD in sunk cost on the cancelled iRex project – figures the Maritime Union has been advised on after consulting with the maritime industry here and offshore.

Maritime Union of New Zealand National Secretary Carl Findlay says the Finance Minister needs to explain how this happened and why she should keep her job. 

“This single decision is likely to have torched a billion dollars of taxpayer’s money with nothing to show for it. It’s fiscal arson.”

Mr Findlay says on top of this cost, New Zealand still needs to buy new ferries. 

He says unlike the iRex ferries cancelled by the Minister, which were purchased at a fixed price in 2021, their replacement will have to be bought at 2024 shipbuilding prices, which are currently at their highest since before the global financial crisis of 2008.

“Between that and our dollar being much weaker than it was when we struck the 2021 deal, the Government’s replacement ships could cost twice as much to build as the cancelled ones.”

Mr Findlay says industry players believe the Government is looking to hide some of this cost through a Private Public Partnership. 

He says we’ve seen time and time again all this would do is increase the expense, and shift it onto users and future taxpayers.

“Putting a private for-profit gatekeeper on the key freight route between our main islands is a recipe for economic disaster.

“Prime Minister Luxon needs to bite the bullet, try to salvage the iRex deal in whatever way he can, and admit the cost his Finance Minister’s commercial blunder has put on the taxpayer.

“He should also ask himself whether his Finance Minister should be left in charge of running our economy after making this colossal economic and commercial mistake.”

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EIT IDEAschool students excel at Hokonui Fashion Awards | EIT Hawke’s Bay and Tairāwhiti

Source: Eastern Institute of Technology – Tairāwhiti

5 mins ago

EIT Bachelor of Creative Practice (Fashion) student Adena Waudby won the Gore RSA Young Designer Award at the Hokonui Fashion Design Awards.

Two EIT IDEAschool Fashion students have excelled at the Hokonui Fashion Design Awards, with one a runner up in the menswear category and the other earning a special award.

Candice D’Acre (Ngāti Porou) was runner up in the Van De Water Jewellers Open Menswear Award and fellow classmate Adena Waudby won the Gore RSA Young Designer Award.

The design awards, now in its 36th year, were held in Gore last weekend. It provides a competitive platform for all amateur fashion designers to showcase their designs in front of industry leaders.

Adena and Candice, both in their second year of the Bachelor of Creative Practice (Fashion), say the results were surprising.  

Adena’s three-piece menswear collection was inspired by PlayStation 5, with blue, black and white colours, and lines to echo the symmetry of the console.

Having missed watching the livestream, Adena got home to find out she had won, and says it was “so surprising”.

“It was very much a surreal moment, marking a milestone in my career and motivating me to keep creating, and contributing to the world of fashion. Now having my trophy has made it feel all real.”

Candice says: “It’s pretty validating. It’s like ‘oh, I actually am kind of good at this and it has given me the push to keep on going.”

The 32-year-old mum of two’s theme for her three-piece menswear collection was Pierrot the clown.

“I originally started off with the Venice Carnival, but it was so broad that I narrowed it down to what really stuck out to me. And Pierrot is quite prominent in pop culture, to the extent that we don’t even realise nowadays. So, I was able to have fun with it.”

Candice has had a long association with EIT, graduating with a Bachelor of Business, majoring in Marketing and Management in 2021. She was also the recipient of the $15,000 Sir James Wattie Scholarship in 2020.

EIT Bachelor of Creative Practice (Fashion) Adena Waudby pictured the garment that won her the Gore RSA Young Designer Award at the Hokonui Fashion Design Awards.

“I didn’t know what I wanted to do with my life so I thought business would be a good base for whatever I decided to do.”

A keen crafter, she found the sewing machine she got when her daughter was born 10 years ago and discovered her passion for fashion.

“I hadn’t used it once, but I decided to make scrunchies. They sucked, but I kept wanting to do it and get better. Then I saw that they had a course at EIT.”

Sewing wasn’t something she grew up with but has since come to love fashion, particularly during her time at EIT.

They both speak highly of their lecturers.

“They allow us the freedom while also understanding our skill sets and nudging us in the right direction,” Candice says.

“Honestly, as cliché as it is, EIT has definitely changed who I am in a positive way. When I first started, I had been a stay-at-home mom for almost three years, and I was just not confident, I didn’t put myself out there or anything like that. This degree has also helped me hone my creative side a lot, and how to channel it in a way that would be expected through real work.”

Adena Waudby’s winning design. Photo/MLT Hokonui Fashion design Awards

IDEAschool Fashion Lecturer Christina Rhodes says they are blown away by their students’ success.

Over the years, they have won a number of awards. However, Christina says it is the first time they have had a student win young designer.

Seven students from EIT entered the competition across a number of categories.

“All entries from our students were just fabulous.”

Both Adena and Candice are busy working on this year’s outfits, due to be showcased at the annual IDEAschool end of year show.  

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Love of cars leads young Tairāwhiti woman to study automotive engineering at EIT | EIT Hawke’s Bay and Tairāwhiti

Source: Eastern Institute of Technology – Tairāwhiti

2 days ago

Celia Brooking enrolled in the Level 3 Certificate in Automotive Engineering at EIT last year and is now doing her apprenticeship for the Level 4 Certificate in Automotive Engineering.

Growing up around cars has led a young Tairāwhiti woman to study automotive engineering at EIT, with the hope of breaking into the still male-dominated industry.

Celia Brooking (Ngāti Porou) grew up in Tairāwhiti,went to Gisborne Girls’ High School and last year she enrolled  in the Level 3 Certificate in Automotive Engineering at EIT.

A love of cars and tinkering under the hood led Celia to follow her dream and study at the Tairāwhiti Campus from last July until April this year. She has not looked back and is now doing her apprenticeship for the Level 4 Certificate in Automotive Engineering.

“It was really cool. Much more so than I expected. I got to learn every aspect of a car and how everything works and how to service the car.”

“My tutors in Level 3 were excellent and I still associate with them today.”

Celia, 18, says that while it can still be tough being a female in a male-dominated industry, “everyone’s been pretty accepting and pretty nice, especially where I’m working right now”.

Where she is working now is Overnight Service Centre in Gisborne, where she is doing her apprenticeship and gets to service vehicles and help out with other work as well.

As for the future, Celia has some options. One is to head over to Australia to continue her career and be closer to some of her family. She sees it as a “fresh start”.

However, another alternative is to continue her studies at EIT. With her industry changing at pace, Celia is interested in learning more about servicing electric vehicles. She is considering enrolling in the NZ Certificate in Electric Vehicle Automotive Engineering (Level 5) when she finishes her current programme.

As for her advice to other women wanting to enter the automotive engineering industry, Celia says “if you want to get into it, just do it”.

Tim Jagusch, Assistant Head of the School of Trades and Technology said: “The two most important attributes our industries are looking for are time management and work ethic. Celia possesses these attributes – along with a good attitude. “

“All this contribute to her success and she is an exemplar student.”

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EIT student wins best female filmmaker at VF48 regional final | EIT Hawke’s Bay and Tairāwhiti

Source: Eastern Institute of Technology – Tairāwhiti

1 day ago

EIT Bachelor of Creative Practice (Screen Production) student Kayla Tepania won Wift Best Female Filmmaker at this year’s Vista Foundation 48Hours Gisborne Final.

EIT Bachelor of Creative Practice (Screen Production) student Kayla Tepania has been recognised for her work on the big screen at this year’s Vista Foundation 48Hours Gisborne Final.

Kayla (Ngāpuhi, Te Whānau-ā-Apanui and Tainui) says she entered the competition this year to redeem herself following an attempt in her first year of study, but did not expect to win the Wift Best Female/Gender Diverse Filmmaker at the regional finals.  

Her team HaReKa Films and their film ‘What Remains’ was also selected as a finalist, and nominated for best director, best script, best editing, best use of genre, best use of element 2 (a traveller or neighbour) and best use of element 4 (an exit).

“For me, it’s quite a big award. Just being recognised in that field is quite incredible, particularly given that the people who judged the category are acclaimed industry professionals. So, it really is validation for me,” Kayla says.

“I couldn’t have done it without the team. It just makes me feel proud to be representing the region. So, I just feel very proud and shocked at the same time.”

The Vista Foundation 48Hours is the country’s largest guerrilla filmmaking competition where filmmakers have just one weekend to make a short film. As part of the requirements, they must also include some random elements.

This year, her genre was animal adventure film. While it is largely left up to their own imagination, they had to include a traveller or neighbour, an exit and a warning.

“For us, it’s finding out what we can do with the region. In our film, we have a dog who is travelling from one destination to another, and we took footage from all around Napier and Taradale. Because what we want to do as well is highlight the region for filmmaking specifically.”

The 27-year-old was a producer and co-director alongside Harry Lawson and Regan Bailey.

“I’m so proud of everybody and what we put out. There could be tweaks to it for sure but for what we did in the time we did it in, we’re so happy.”

Kayla, originally from Waiouru, grew up wanting to be an actor.  

“I’ve always loved film and TV. I can recall as a child that my parents only let me watch documentaries and films. So, when I was in Auckland during my youth, I signed up with an agency thinking I wanted to be an actor. But I’m not an actor, I don’t have what it takes.

“So, I put that aside and thought well film isn’t for me, thinking that acting was the only part of it. And I moved to the states.”

It wasn’t until she returned to New Zealand, that she decided to apply for jobs in the film industry, and soon found herself enrolled at EIT.

“It was basically one of the directors that told me about EIT. I’ve always had a passion for film, but I didn’t realise until about three years ago that I was going to be on this side of it.”

Now, in her final year of the degree, Kayla can proudly say she has found her passion.

“Every single job that I do, I’m passionate about and I love it. And actually studying it and learning how to use the gear and do all the practical learning has just helped so much.”

She says the culture at EIT is supportive and focuses on bettering students.

“You can tell that they care about the students and that they want to better the students. They’re extremely supportive, especially with the 48 hours because we were given permission to use all the screen production gear and use the building as a home base to come up with the ideas.”

The awards and nominations they received have fuelled them to aim to do even better next year.

“I’m so excited for next year. We’ve already learned so much, even just from this year’s competition, so as the years go on, it’s just going to get better and better for us hopefully.”

EIT IDEAschool Lecturer Wayne Dobson says: “Kayla’s involvement with the VF48 began in her first year of study when she joined fellow students and recent graduates to compete.

“Two years on she was a driving force behind this year’s entry, which received award nominations in multiple categories. The skills acquired during her studies and the collaborative nature of the programme have contributed to her success in this competition and locally as an emerging film maker.”

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Loss of Takutai Chief undermines New Zealand shipping and supply chain

Source: Maritime Union of New Zealand

 
 The loss of a New Zealand operated coastal freighter and 12 jobs due to the economic downturn threatens the viability and resilience of our supply chain.
  
Swire Shipping, the owners of Pacifica Shipping, have advised its second New Zealand coastal freighter Takutai Chief will be removed from service soon after a downturn in trade.
 
Mr Findlay says the Union accepts the reasons given for the decision, including current poor economic conditions and service changes by international lines reducing feeder volumes.
 
“Nonetheless, this is a major blow to New Zealand shipping and our maritime workforce, and reduces the resilience and future security of our supply chain.”
 
Mr Findlay says Pacifica has shown an ongoing commitment to New Zealand coastal shipping.
 
He says coastal shipping offers a low emission transport mode, and reduces congestion and wear on roads.
 
The situation reflect a larger crisis within the New Zealand maritime industry where there is a lack of stability due to failure in strategic policy, he says.
 
Mr Findlay says the dependence of New Zealand on overseas shipping was a major problem during COVID with serious disruptions when overseas shipping calls were delayed or dropped.
 
He says skilled New Zealand seafarers will leave the industry for opportunities in Australia, with an ageing workforce seeing a large number of seafarers retiring in the near future.
 
Mr Findlay says the uncertainty around the future of Interislander ferries is another aspect of the ongoing crisis in New Zealand shipping.
 
“Despite being a maritime trading nation, New Zealand has no clear strategy for a sustainable shipping industry, which leaves us exposed and vulnerable in a volatile global market.”
 
“New Zealand needs to build its coastal shipping capacity, with New Zealand owned, operated and crewed ships.”
 
Pacifica Shipping is an operating division of Swire Shipping (N.Z) Limited.
 

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EIT delegation visits China for meetings and graduation of first cohort of Data Science and Communications programme | EIT Hawke’s Bay and Tairāwhiti

Source: Eastern Institute of Technology – Tairāwhiti

5 mins ago

An EIT delegation has paid a visit to China to hold meetings with its partner Zhejiang Yuexiu University and to attend the very first graduation ceremony of EIT Data Science and Communications College of ZYU students, who started in 2020.

An EIT delegation has just returned from China where it held joint management, teaching and academic meetings to further a partnership with Zhejiang Yuexiu University of Foreign Languages (ZYU); and attending the very first graduation ceremony of EIT Data Science and Communications College of Zhejiang Yuexiu University students.

The joint International College partnership between EIT and ZYU began in 2020. That first year saw 230 students starting on the campus in Shao Xing City, Zhejiang Province, Southeast China.

Approval from the China Ministry of Education and the New Zealand Qualifications Authority (NZQA) paved the way for EIT to deliver its degree programmes in China. The joint venture supports the delivery of two of EIT’s degrees, the Bachelor of Creative Practice and the Bachelor of Computing Systems and , with three majors offered in Information Systems, Intelligent Systems and Digital Media.

The delegation that went to China last month was Philippa Jones, EIT Executive Director International; EIT’s two Executive Deans John West and Helen Ryan-Stewart; and Sue Blackmore, Head of School, Viticulture and Wine Science & IDEAschool. The delegation was joined in China by  Kaylie Tan, Deputy Dean, EIT Data Science and Communications College, China.

The purpose of the visit was twofold – holding joint management, teaching and academic meetings to further the partnership; and attending the very first graduation ceremony of EIT Data Science and Communications College of Zhejiang Yuexiu University students, who started in 2020.

More than 200 students graduated, 56 with an EIT Bachelor Degree in either Bachelor of Computing Systems or Bachelor of Creative Practice, while the other students graduated with the ZYU qualification.

The event was livestreamed across China and received more than 560,000 views. Graduating as top student in their degrees were Ming Tong HU – Bachelor of Computing Systems (Information Systems); Bin GUAN – Bachelor of Computing Systems (Intelligent Systems); and Lequn XU – Bachelor of Creative Practice.

A celebratory dinner for the delegation was hosted by President Gang Xiu, his Executive Vice President Ms Xiaolin WEI; his Vice Presidents (Academic) Mr Wentao Chen, and Vice President (International) Ms Jinling Ge.

The delegation also met with a number of directors and managers of ZYU and EIT Data Science and Communication College. There was also visit to Qi LU University and a meeting with seven institutions as part of the China Center for International People-to-People Exchange (CCIPE).

A group of eight ZYU staff will be visiting EIT’s Hawke’s Bay Campus from July for five weeks as part of a 12-week training programme delivered to upskill ZYU staff both in China and in NZ. A group of 18 ZYU students and a teacher will come on a study tour to EIT Hawke’s Bay Campus in August for two weeks.

Philippa Jones says that the visit was a success as it built on the solid relationship that EIT has with ZYU and also showcased the hard work that had gone into the first graduation.

“We look forward to many more graduations as we continue to see the EIT Data Science and Communications College grow. This is a milestone in our partnership because it is the very first graduation from our ZYU joint education institute partnership.”

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Passion for policy and legislation led student to study social work at EIT | EIT Hawke’s Bay and Tairāwhiti

Source: Eastern Institute of Technology – Tairāwhiti

14 seconds ago

Ami Hokianga is in her third year of the Bachelor of Social Work (Honours) at EIT Tairāwhiti.

A passion for policy and legislation led a student to study social work at EIT Tairāwhiti.

Ami Hokianga (Rongowhakaata, Ngāti Porou) felt that she needed to develop herself further after a number of years working across the legal, health and horticultural sectors. She decided to enrol in the Bachelor of Social Work (Honours) at EIT’s Tairāwhiti Campus to pursue her interest in developing workable policy solutions for New Zealand’s social services.

Ami, wanted to remain in Tairāwhiti with her whānau and said that she realised the social work degree at EIT, was the quickest way for her to see the direct impacts of policy on the front line.

“I think that from the beginning of my studies with EIT my focus has always been policy and legislation.”

“My reason to study social work was to understand the structures and the systems that bind us, particularly for Māori.”

Growing up as an “army baby” Ami spent most of her early school years in Auckland and Wellington and then across to El Paso, Texas on the United States Mexico border to complete intermediate. Ami returned to Aotearoa and completed Year 9 to Year 13, boarding at Turakina Māori Girls’ College and eventually moving to Western Australia to pursue a career in legal studies.

Ami returned to Tairāwhiti to raise her daughters on the East Coast and worked across the health and horticulture sectors before realising she wanted to pursue a degree with EIT.

“I have found it refreshing. I love to learn. And so that’s probably why my career is so vast in regard to law, health, and then horticulture. Learning for me is a huge thing and actually coming back to that study space was exactly what I needed.”

Ami, who is currently in the third year of the four-year degree, says that while the programme has had its challenges, this has allowed her to push herself in regard to learning and responding to different perspectives.

Another aspect of the programme Ami has recently completed, is her 60-day placement within the community. Ami has enjoyed learning alongside experienced practitioners and being supported by an awesome and empowering team at Oranga Tamariki-Tairāwhiti.

She says she would be keen to work at government level of policy or legislation as she believes “by identifying the gaps within our systems and structures from the frontline, we are able to identify the direct impacts for whānau and influence or improve future policy and legislation”.

Ami, an “independent mama”, who also works part-time within Governance support while she completes her degree, recently received the Te Whatu Ora- Te Pitomata grant in recognition of her commitment and study aspirations to contribute to Māori Health, she says she has no hesitation in recommending EIT as a place to study.

She says without EIT, she wouldn’t have met social work peers from both Tairāwhiti and Taradale, who are all equally driven, purposeful and strong-minded students. However, it is the unwavering support from her parents and children that keep her grounded in pursuing and gaining a degree with EIT.

EIT Social Work Lecturer and Programme Coordinator Charlotte Chisnell says: “Ami’s commitment to understanding and influencing policy and legislation, especially for Māori communities, aligns perfectly with the core values of EIT. Her experiences in law, health, and horticulture enrich her perspective and contribute significantly to her studies and future career in social work.”

“Ami’s story is a testament to the  importance of education and community support. We look forward to seeing Ami  continue her journey.”