Mr Parris outshone thousands of talented and dedicated students from across TAFE Western’s 24 colleges to claim the award at a special presentation at Dubbo’s Dundullimal Homestead.

“TAFE Western’s Outstanding Graduating Student of the Year Awards (OGSAs) are nominated by our teachers and recognise our most passionate, dedicated, industrious and skilful students,” Institute Director Kate Baxter said.

“Michael demonstrated all of these qualities and many more during his time studying at TAFE Western. He was a valued team member, was well respected by his peers and an exceptional student, so is a very deserving winner of our most prestigious award.”

Michael was nominated for the award by TAFE Western Welfare Teacher Deanne Davis, who was thrilled he claimed the top gong.

“Michael is an amazing team player and believes that people deserve the right to be heard. He has a huge sense of community spirit and is a very giving and thoughtful person,” she said.

Dubbo’s Grace Parker completed her TVET Automotive Course in 2015 and topped the state in her HSC with a Band 6 result of 91/100. Grace was also runner-up in the Most Outstanding Graduating Student of the Year award, and claimed the TVET Student of the Year Award.

Orange’s Wayne Wright, who completed a Certificate III in Community Services and successfully obtained full-time employment with Mission Australia in 2015, was named TAFE Western’s Aboriginal Student of the Year.

“Wayne always rose to a challenge and inspired others to achieve. Although at times he wondered if it was going to be worth it – a job was the ultimate prize at the end,” Certificate III Community Services Work Teacher Sharna Dean, who nominated Wayne for the award, said.

Katherine Bradbury, who also studied a Certificate III in Community Services, was runner-up in the Aboriginal Student of the Year Award, and also claimed the Aboriginal TVET Student of the Year Award.

Mudgee resident Audra Field, who studied Woolclassing at Dubbo TAFE, was presented with the TAFE NSW Ambassador Prize.

Full list of award winners:

·         Aboriginal Elder of the Year: Aunty Una Lake (Dubbo);

·         Aboriginal Apprentice of the Year: Shaun Gordon (Dubbo);

·         Aboriginal Pre-Vocational Student of the Year: Aaron Phillipps (Mudgee);

·         Aboriginal Trainee of the Year: Shaylyn Whyman (Wilcannia);

·         Aboriginal TVET Student of the Year: Katherine Bradbury (Bathurst);

·         Aboriginal Vocational Student of the Year: Garfield Lane (Dubbo);

·         Aboriginal Vocational Student of the Year: Wayne Wright (Orange);

·         Apprentice of the Year: Sammantha Devlin (Orange);

·         Pre-Vocational Student of the Year: Adam McFarlane (Geurie);

·         Trainee of the Year: Kellie Lane (Bathurst);

·         TVET Student of the Year: Grace Parker (Dubbo);

·         Vocational Student of the Year: Christopher Heffernan (Broken Hill);

·         Vocational Student of the Year: Nongnuch Kullavong (Kandos);

·         Vocational Student of the Year: Kristy Rogers (Dubbo);

·         Vocational Student of the Year: Michael Parris (Dubbo);

·         Vocational Student of the Year: Connor Coman-Sargent (Dubbo);

·         Young Learner of the Year: Cody Jones (Dubbo);

·         TAFE NSW Ambassador Prize: Audra Field (Dubbo);

·         Runner-up Aboriginal Student of the Year: Katherine Bradbury (Bathurst);

·         Aboriginal Student of the Year: Wayne Wright (Orange);

·         Runner-up Outstanding Graduating Student of the Year: Grace Parker (Dubbo);

·         Outstanding Graduating Student of the Year: Michael Parris (Dubbo).