PLACED ACADEMY 2024-25 GRADUATION
What an incredible evening celebrating PLACED Academy.
It was amazing to have almost 300 people in attendance at our graduation/launch event, including Studio graduates, new starters, Academy Alumni, parents, sponsors and supporters.
Massive congratulations to our 2024-25 Studio cohort, you've shown incredible dedication throughout the programme. It was lovely to reflect on your achievements and hear about your journeys!
Highlights of the evening were the series of amazing speeches from three of our young people:
∙ Tobias impressed everyone by sharing his experience of the Future Designers competition and Foundations programme, speaking confidently about the impact the programmes have had - heartwarming and inspiring!
∙ Zuzanna spoke expressively about her favourite PLACED Academy Studio sessions and how much she's loved the programme. Zuzanna’s excitement for the Alumni opportunities was wonderful to see!
∙ Josh reflected on his invaluable industry mentorship with Charlie Chu of Walker Sime, highlighting how real-world connections and guidance are crucial for professional and personal development.
We also heard from two of our valued PLACED Academy sponsors:
∙ Matthew Giles of MGMA Architects Limited spoke passionately about their session with our Gold Sponsors, Pegasus Group. He highlighted how many skills our cohort develops throughout the sessions and how much they are able to achieve in just six hours - a testament to how incredibly impressive and driven they all are!
∙ Charlie Chu also shared his insights on his experience as an Alumni mentor. He outlined what drew him to want to support the Academy and how rewarding it has been to mentor Josh, one of our brilliant PLACED Academy Alumni.
The words shared last night really underscore the power of PLACED Academy and the bright futures ahead for all our participants.
As we celebrate the successes of our graduating cohort, we also extend a HUGE welcome to this year's new DOUBLE intake! Thank you to everyone who joined us and supports PLACED Academy. Together, we're building a brighter future for the next generation!
Photos by WEDGE Collective
