Award marks Gateway effort

Stratford High School student Herbert van Veen has earned national recognition with a highly commended award after being announced as a top three finalist in the Fairview Educational Services Limited Gateway Awards.

Herbert, who has worked for Inglewood Loader Parts this year through the Gateway programme, has some exciting plans for his future.

"I have just applied for a mechanical engineering course at WITT for 2014," he says.

"Ultimately I want to be a maintenance and diagnostic technician."

Not only was Herbert one of only two students in New Zealand to receive this award, he was given a $150 cheque to further his study.

Stratford High School's Gateway programme facilitator Kim Hodson says she can't think of anyone more deserving.

"Herbert has completed more than twice the units required for his 2013 programme," she says.

"Herbert has been a very dedicated student and a pleasure to have on the Gateway Programme."

For Herbert to be recognised in the awards he had to be nominated by his school with an accompanying reference from his place of employment during the year.

"Inglewood Loader Parts wrote such lovely things about Herbert," says Kim. "He has become a real role model for younger students wanting to enter the Gateway Programme."

Stratford High School principal Philip Keenan says, "Herbert is the perfect example of why the Gateway programme works.

"He has done fantastically and the school could not be more proud."