No challenge too hard after AUT Edge Award

(AUT Edge Award Personal Growth prize winner Karan Patel accepting prize from Anna Dyer of MYOB)

“I now know I can approach new challenges, no matter how hard,” says Karan Patel, who received the MYOB Personal Growth Prize at the Employability Awards Graduation Ceremony on Monday 14 November. The prize is awarded to the student who demonstrated the greatest personal growth or change throughout the AUT Edge Award journey in relation to their level of employability.

“I am proud to receive the personal growth prize. The AUT Edge Award shows me that I have grown from being someone who can't do things to someone who can. I used to be isolated and fearful,” says Karan.

Karan overcame many uncertainties to greatly improve his confidence in his employability as a Deaf student throughout the AUT Edge Award. His confidence grew to the point he took on the advocacy role of AUTSA disability affairs, a role he would never have considered before the award.

He says this taught him about the richness of having a collaborative point of view when trying to bring about change.
“Prior to the Edge Award I was accustomed to letting opportunities slip me by. Meeting new people filled me with anxiety. Through the Edge Award I summoned the courage to inch out of my comfort zone and my confidence has grown. No matter how hard the next challenge, I’ve now got the courage to try,” says Karan.

Graduation celebrates great achievements

Karan was one of four students singled out for going over and beyond during their award journey. Sheldon Hall received the EY Leadership prize, Khooshi Patel won the SEEK Volunteer volunteering prize and Etienne Tapueluelu received the Cordis Hotel Beyond AUT prize.

was one of 93 students to graduate with the AUT Edge Award. A further 21 students received the Beyond AUT Award for postgraduates. While doing the award these students contributed over 7000 hours of volunteering and 6500 hours of leadership to many areas of their communities.

As well as making a huge difference to their communities, the awards also encourage development of the ‘C’ skills or soft skills that employers love to see evidence of. Vice Chancellor Professor Damon Salesa (right), who spoke at the graduation, praised the students for their resilience and generosity with their time and energy.

“Not only does it make you a better employee, this award makes you a better family member, better friend and better member of society,” he said.

Student Employability Director Anna Williams described the celebration as a highlight of the calendar.

“The students here have gone through a journey of learning, knowledge and reflection. This has built their self confidence and will make them stand out from the crowd when they leave AUT.”

The awards are acknowledged formally on the students’ academic transcripts. No other university in New Zealand offers or acknowledges such a comprehensive programme of activities done outside of study. And it is free to join.

"Being enrolled in an amazing free programme like the AUT Edge Award or Beyond AUT Award really complements students’ study - and gives them a competitive advantage when looking for work," says Employability Awards specialist Logan Carr.

Seven years on

The AUT Employability Awards have gone from strength to strength since the inception of the AUT Edge Award in 2016 and Beyond AUT Award (postgraduate) in 2019. Throughout that time students have delivered over 55,000 volunteering hours and 38,000 leadership hours to organisations as diverse as Red Cross, SPCA, Greenpeace, Girl Guiding, Conservation Volunteer NZ, Recreate, City Mission, Sunday Blessing, NZ Olympic Committee, TEDx Auckland.

They’ve also participated in student ambassador and RUOK programmes, AUTSA clubs and events and other aspects of AUT’s academic and social calendar.

Find out more about the AUT Edge Award and Beyond AUT Award here.

Group photo caption (L to R) Etienne Tapueluelu, Karan Patel, Khooshi Patel, Sheldon Hall