Staff and students from across the former schools, Mitchell Secondary College, Wodonga West and Wodonga High and the now ������ came together to celebrate this momentous occasion.

A great time was had by all, with lots of laughs and reminiscing.

Class of 2015 graduate Chelsea McGuire returns to the College, sharing her experiences

At our College Chelsea undertook the VCAL program which supported her aspirations of being a Chef, “VCAL was a really good choice for me as it supported me in my pathway of choice”, said Chelsea. “It enabled me to get out into the workforce and gain valuable industry experience” Chelsea added.

“I’ve always loved cooking since I was young” Chelsea said, enjoying the cooking classes at the Wodonga Middle Years College and selecting the VET Hospitality Commercial Cookery electives at the Senior Secondary College assisted Chelsea to develop a pathway into her field of interest with the help of our industry specialist teachers and diverse range of programs.

By enrolling in the Hospitality courses offered at the College, Chelsea was able to develop a real passion for food, undertaking Units 1 to 4 in VET Hospitality in Years 10 and 11 and whilst in Year 12 undertaking a specialist units 5 and 6 in the field, which provided a unique opportunity to learn more about the industry and develop a sought after skill set in the food and beverage industry.

As part of the VET Hospitality program students complete several services in the College Pepper training restaurant which enables students to develop key skills in their chosen specialty area of front or back of house service, allowing every student to focus on a particular area of study which interests them and operates like any other restaurant serving the public. Chelsea took this opportunity to lead services when working with students completing earlier units of study.

Our students experience VET (Vocational Education and Training) like no others in the region, having access to learning environments that are equipped with industry standard equipment and teachers who have worked in the field that they now teach, bringing a great deal of knowledge and experience to their classrooms. This provides our graduates with unique connections to the industry for both employment and future training with every student leaving with a pathway into employment, apprenticeships or tertiary studies.

Chelsea completed an industry placement at a local restaurant, which provided a valuable opportunity to develop her skills in the kitchen and gain some experience working in a team environment. Chelsea later gained an apprenticeship through the same local business and is well on her way to completing this.

The College would like to congratulate Chelsea on her achievements and wish her all the best with her future.

Whilst attending the College Katie pursued her passion for The Arts, studying VCE Media and Studio Arts subjects allowing her to develop her own unique art style which she loved. In Year 12 Katie utilised several mediums to create a collection of artwork as part of her VCE Art folio, which included a short film and sculptures that were on showcased alongside work from other VCE students in the annual College Kaleidoscope exhibition.

Students took this opportunity to ask questions about university life and the course that Katie was completing to help them prepare for their next steps in life after graduating later this year.

Katie highlighted the importance of developing connections wherever you go, commenting on how this has helped her to establish a presence in the film industry, saying from her experience it’s “30% talent and the rest is who you know”.

Katie also spoke about how she established herself as a makeup artist for short films and commercial shoots in Melbourne and the importance of a professional work ethic. “Approach every project as the most important thing in the world” she said, taking on many challenging projects over the past few years and in doing so has developed a personal brand and style which is setting herself apart from the other people in this competitive industry.

Now studying a degree at the SAE Creative Media Institute located in Port Melbourne, Katie aims to pursue a career in the film and television industry as a director after graduating. The College would like to thank Katie for taking the time to speak with the students and we wish her all the best with her career.

Katie’s work is documented on her Instagram page:

Since graduating from the College in 2015 Rebecca has begun study at Charles Sturt University, Bathurst campus in the field of Civil Engineering. This has seen her draw upon the skills of time management, organisation and communication in a team environment, which she developed during her time at the College.

Rebecca began her time at the College in the Academic Advancement Program, this gave her the ability to learn independently at her own rate, giving her essential attributes that set her apart from her peers at university. This program allowed her to study a level of mathematics that opened up many opportunities when it came to university entry.

Throughout Rebecca’s time at the College she enjoyed participating in the Student Leadership Council, representing the College at various events within the College and wider community.
Once Rebecca completes her degree at Charles Sturt University she aspires to work in the project management field for large-scale construction projects or land development.

Are you a graduate of Wodonga Senior College? Click to register as a College Alumni; Or contact the College to find out where ������ can take you.