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VACC announces Automotive Design Award winners
Future looking bright for talented young design studentsA judging panel comprising illuminati from Ford, Holden and Toyota has named the best and brightest young Victorian designers for this year's VACC Automotive Design Awards.
Victoria's Minister for Manufacturing, Major Projects and Ports, the Hon. David Hodgett (pictured from last year) presented the Awards at the venue, Deakin Edge, at Melbourne's Federation Square. Over 200 guests were present, including the judging panel itself, staff from the automotive industry, parents, teachers and students. This year's event was the ninth occasion the VACC has held the awards.
Prize money worth $18,000 in total is doled out to winners and their respective educational institutions. The competition is open to secondary and tertiary students, with those short-listed taking part in a 'Master Class' conducted at Monash University. Two of the students were selected by Ford to join the company's internship program.
Against a backdrop of diminishing automotive manufacturing in Australia, the award ceremony encourages aspiring young designers to proceed further with their passion.
"I am thrilled to win an Award and can't thank VACC enough. I am passionate about vehicle design and can't wait to become a professional designer. I also want to thank Ford to picking me for their Internship Program for the second successive year," said secondary schools winner and Ford intern, Aman Bhatti.
"Design is my passion and I am already professionally employed in the automotive design sector. It's demanding and at the same time exhilarating. I'm confident about the industry's future and this Award strengthens my desire to be part of it," said tertiary institutions winner Merric French.
"Congratulations to the 2014 VACC Automotive Design Awards winners and well done to all the student entrants," said VACC Executive Director, David Purchase.
"Given the closure news from the car companies, it was important this year to promote the automotive design sector. The evening contained a discussion with the Heads of Design from Ford, Holden and Toyota who were put on the spot about the future of their design departments. It was good for students, parents and teachers to hear that Australia's automotive design sector, which is based in Victoria, will continue to require aspiring young designers.
"We thank Minister Hodgett for his ongoing support of the Awards, Ford President and CEO, Bob Graziano for announcing in person the internship program for two secondary school students at the Ford Design Centre and we thank the members of the Judging Panel, namely, Andy Collinson, Exterior Design Manager, Ford; Richard Ferlazzo, Design Director, GM Holden; Nic Hogios, Corporate Manager, Toyota and Chairman of the Panel, Paul Beranger," Mr Purchase said.
2014 VACC Automotive Design Awards winners
Secondary Schools Category
Winner – Aman Bhatti, Lavalla Catholic College, Traralgon
Runner up – Tom McCausland, De La Salle College, Malvern
Highly Commended – Alexander Holmes, Girton Grammar School, Bendigo
Tertiary Institutions Category
Winner – Merric French, Monash University
Runner up – Kouhei Kawakami, Monash University
Highly Commended – Dennis Yu, Monash University
Ford Internship Program
Aman Bhatti, Lavalla Catholic College, Traralgon
Alexander Holmes, Girton Grammar School, Bendigo
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Written byCarsales Staff
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