Two St Margaret's members, Melania Napa'a and Valery Liu, received their University of Otago Student Leadership Awards (UOSLA) at a ceremony in the University's Staff Club last week.
The UOSLA is a two-year extra-curricular programme, giving students opportunities to develop leadership skills and attributes that would enhance personal growth and employability, as well as make a positive contribution to society.
Students are paired with a University staff member mentor, who supports
them through their leadership journey – as they volunteer for various
charities and causes. The Award is administered by the University's Volunteer Centre.
St Margaret's Member Valery Liu is in the final year of a Bachelor of Biomedical Sciences degree. She has been at the College since her first year and for the last two years also a Welfare Staff Member at the College. For Valery, the "journey involved much more than just meeting the quota. It exposed to me the limitless opportunities that are within arm's reach and the many milestones that are yet to be reached."
Melania Napa'a is a double degree student, studying towards Bachelor of Laws and Commerce degrees. She is currently the Clyde House Manager at the College and has been appointed as a College Leader for 2018. Asked about her experience on the programme, Melania says "For me this programme was a way of finding my passion for helping people and my confidence I thought I had lost, but only now realised I had buried."
The College is extremely proud of Melania and Valery and congratulates them on successfully completing the UOSLA. An article about the awards ceremony can viewed on the Otago Bulletin Board.
(Story by the Master, Dr Charles Tustin)
