STA Graduation 2023 |03 August 2023
Christi Camille receiving her trophy from President Ramkalawan
Christi Camille wins President’s Cup
By Sunny Esparon
Christi Camille is the winner of the President’s Cup for the Seychelles Tourism Academy (STA) 2023.
She received her award from President Wavel Ramkalawan and First Lady Linda Ramkalawan during the academy’s graduation ceremony yesterday at the International Conference Centre Seychelles (ICCS).
Around 180 learners graduated in various courses including Advanced Diploma in Hospitality Management, Advanced Certificate in several fields namely Restaurant and Bar, Food Preparation and Culinary Arts, Wellness and Spa, Reception Operations and Services, and Tourism and Tour Guiding. There were also certificates in Restaurant and Bar, Food Preparations and Culinary Arts, Reception Operations and Services, as well as Accommodation Operations and Services.
The President's Cup is awarded to the student described as modest, polite and courteous towards her classmates and staff members. She is also a studious and hardworking individual, excelling in academic and practical courses, and participated actively in various activities at the academy and at national level. The person is also considered a role model for others and an ambassador for the institution.
Speaking to Seychelles NATION, proud and happy Christi Camille stated that she was overjoyed and did not expect to win since there were other hard-working students.
“It was not easy, I did three years at STA and one year in a hotel and encountered a lot of obstacles on the way. There were a lot of people who pushed me; my parents, my family and my lecturers,” she said.
Ms Camille said she is supposed to be joining the Shannon College of Ireland in September to pursue her career in the field.
Her advice for her peers and other future graduates is to work hard. “There is nothing that will come to you easily and we always have to be working hard, researching and always looking for ways to improve.”
Other than the President’s Cup, she also won other prizes including a scholarship sponsored by the government, a trophy sponsored by the Mahogany Hotel, a portable telephone sponsored by Cable and Wireless, R3000 from South West Uniform Shop, a tablet from the Omnibus Association, a prize from the Three Brother’s distillery, a prize sponsored by Airtel Seychelles, a bottle of non-alcoholic champagne from ISPC Seychelles, one night at the hotel Le Duc in Praslin, one plane ticket to go to a destination with Air Seychelles Airlines and a certificate of merit from the academy.
In addition to the President’s Cup, Ms Camille also won the prize for being the Best performer for Business studies courses.
Other best overall performers were Legaie Dhonelly for Food and Beverage, Nadicha Labiche for Room Division which comprises front office and housekeeping, and Mario Boniface who was the best performer in Industry Placement, which recognises the learner who has displayed excellent performance during their one-year based experience.
The Best Academic Student Award went to Aaron Malvina while Best Practice Level Student was presented to Shyla Joubert. The best student in Chinese language was Denzel Gabriel.
Aaron Malvina was the outstanding student in the restaurant and bar group at the advanced certificate level.
Zerane Ah-Kon was the one recognised in the Food Preparation and Culinary Arts at Advanced Certificate Level, for being the Best Academic Performer, Best Practical Performer and Best Overall Performer.
In the Wellness and Spa Advanced Certificate category, Xiang Leo won three categories including the Best Academic Performer, Best Practical Performer and Best Chinese Performer. She was also the best performer for Wellness and Spa at Advanced Certificate Level.
In the Reception Operations and Services Advanced Certificate, the best academic performer was Adamina Zephyrin, who also clinched the Best Practical Performer, as well as Best Overall Performer. The best Chinese performer for the course was Shirley Vital.
In the Tourism and Tour Guiding Advanced Certificate, the best academic performance award went to Daryna Marimba who was also the best overall in her course. The Best Practical Performer award went to Stecey Charlette while the best Chinese performer was Nathanael Charles.
In the Restaurant and Bar Certificate group, the best overall performer was Shakira Tirant.
In the Food Preparation and Culinary Arts certificate group, the best overall performer was Alisha Florentine while in the Reception Operations and Services Certificate group, the best overall performer was Nyla Vinda.
In the Accommodation Operations and Services group, the best overall performer was Janice Ally.
Furthermore, STA made special mention of two learners who participated actively at STA and the community and made good use of the various opportunities provided for them. The two learners, Staelle Rigodon and Ebrahim Dodin received several gifts.
The Director’s Award, which recognises the students who has shown remarkable improvement in character compared to when they started their studies at STA, went to Mikela Charlotte and Marius Edmond. The award recognises learners who through their growth at the academy, have shown a positive change.
Clara Cupidon won the Governing Board Award, which honours a learner with recognised practical skills.
There were three recipients for the Minister’s Award, awarded to the most outstanding learner from the Certificate, Advanced Certificate and Advanced Diploma programme. It recognises learners who have performed exceptionally well, not only academically but have also displayed exemplary behaviour and working skills.
The winners were Janice Ally at Certificate Level, Xiang Luo at Advanced Certificate Level and Christi Camille at Advanced Diploma Level.
During yesterday’s ceremony, the director of STA, Terence Max, announced that this year’s graduation has increased by 3% compared to last year. In addition, STA has also embarked on various projects including an engagement with the Seychelles Qualifications Authority in order to re-validate all the existing courses, a process which will be completed by December 2023. The construction of the new cafeteria with seating facilities will also be completed soon.
Furthermore, a decision has been taken to embark on a new development through the Seychelles Infrastructure Agency to construct new modern facilities that will provide a safe and conducive training and working environment.
“This will fittingly represent and reflect the standards of our tourism industry in terms of facility design and fit-for-purpose infrastructure,” he stated.
Secondly, STA remains supportive to the concept of lifelong learning in accordance with the widening of professional opportunities through the newly launched foundation training programmes. It also continues to expand on the in-service training programmes to satisfy the employee upgrading requirements of a broad range of stakeholders inclusive of government institutions and private companies.
He also noted that Academy’s partnership with the tourism private sector is now stronger than ever. “We are extremely happy to witness an increased presence of our trade partners at the academy and we are very much appreciative of their reassurance and commitment to continue to collaborate and support the work that we do.”
He concluded by stating that STA has to be the prime recruitment ground.
With this in mind and with the partnership of the department of Employment, STA launched its first recruitment fair in June this year, which saw the participation of 23 tourism and hospitality businesses. STA said 95% of its graduates have registered under ‘My First Job’ and already secured employment in various tourism establishments.
Photos by Louis Toussaint
