Multimedia Student wins International Student of the Year Award
7 October 2004
Kangan Batman TAFE's International Student of the Year is Camilo Gomez, 21, of Essendon, a first year Diploma of Multimedia student, who comes from Colombia in South America.
The Awards were announced at a presentation ceremony held at Richards Restaurant on 6 October. The finalists were presented with Certificates and vouchers by Kangan Batman Director, Ray Griffiths, who praised the high quality of all five finalists.
The winner receives the major award of his second year tuition costs, valued at $8,000.
The other four finalists in Kangan Batman's International Student of the Year 2004 Award were:
- Marcin Ptasznik from Poland, studying ELICOS and Certificate III in Automotive Mechanical (Motor Cycle)
- Afroza Khanam, from Bangladesh, studying Advanced Diploma of Hospitality Management
- Camilo Salgado, from Colombia, studying Advanced Diploma of Aerospace (Engineering)
- Ozcan Babur, from Turkey, studying ELICOS
Camilo Gomez came to Australia as a student at the beginning of 2004. He had previously started tertiary studies in IT in his home city of Bogota, but wanted to do something that was "a cross between IT and something visually creative".
With nothing like that available in Colombia, Camilo started researching overseas study in the US, Canada, the UK, Spain and Australia. He chose Australia because of a combination of exactly the right course at Kangan Batman TAFE and the competitive costs of study here, compared to the other countries.
"Of course, there was one big problem - I didn't speak much English," said Camilo. Three months of intensive English study at home gave him a start, and, on arrival, he completed a further one-month ELICOS course.
From the start, Camilo loved the Kangan Batman Multimedia course and has achieved very high results. "My involvement in all the activities of the class is almost 100 per cent," says Camilo. "I love the multicultural mix in the class, the friendly competition and the feedback you get from teachers and other multimedia students."
Camilo's teachers praised his ability as a team leader and an innovator in a creative field. His nomination stressed his enthusiastic involvement in student projects. He was a team leader with two others in a successful multimedia project for the Kangan Batman Fashion Studies department, and through the TAFE he worked part time on a three-month contract with On Line Learning Australia.
His current student projects include a multi-media animated presentation, and he is part of a team working to prepare a video for the Fashion Department's annual fashion parade.
"When I arrived in Australia, I got a small job as a cleaner, but now I have pursued my personal ambitions and have a part time job in the multimedia industry for 20 hours per week, which is really valuable experience," said Camilo. In addition, Camilo finds time to be part of a South American folk dancing group, and works as a storyteller in his native Spanish on radio 3CCC.
Looking to the future, Camilo hopes to continue on to a university degree in visual arts (multimedia), then return to Colombia, where he sees great possibilities for setting up a business with his brother, who works in advertising.
