11 October 2018

Our First Platinum Loyola Award Winner

Article by Brent Keast

Our First Platinum Loyola Award Winner

A proud moment for Brent - a proud moment for the College

My name is Brent Keast, I am currently studying in Year 12 and lucky enough to be the first recipient of the Platinum Loyola Award, which I received at the Year 12 Assembly on Thursday 6th September. From the day I received my first Loyola Award and Bronze Loyola Star Award I had the ambition of getting the Platinum Loyola Award. It got to this year and I had thought my luck had run out until I received my second Gold Loyola Award, as soon as possible I went to see Gail Lambert one of the Deputy Principal’s Secretaries and learnt that I only had five Loyola Awards to go. For the following weeks I worked hard to get these five Loyola Awards by doing various activities for the College.

For those that are not familiar or are wondering what the Platinum Loyola Award is and how to get it, hopefully the following can explain it for you.

  • First you must receive 5 Loyola Awards from your teachers in any of the categories of Academic Endeavour, Academic Excellence, Excellence in Sport, Community Service and Cultural.

To clarify there is a difference between Academic Endeavour and Academic Excellence, you do not have to be an A student to achieve Academic Endeavour, as long as you try your hardest in your school work you could receive one from your teachers.

  • Once you have 5 Loyola Awards in any of the categories from above you are eligible to receive the Bronze Loyola Award.
  • After this once you receive 7 Loyola Awards with 2 Loyola Awards in at least 2 categories from above you will be eligible for the Silver Loyola Award.
  • Furthermore once receiving 10 Loyola Awards with 3 in at least 3 categories from above to achieve and receive the Gold Loyola Award.
  • After you achieve 2 Gold Loyola Awards and are able to receive your 3rd Gold Loyola Award you will instead reach the highest Award available called the Platinum Loyola Award.
  • All Bronze, Silver, Gold and Platinum Awards are received at either Year Level Assemblies or Whole College Assemblies as a badge to be worn on the College Uniform.

For me, receiving the Loyola Awards was not my intention, however, over the years I have learnt a great deal of skills especially organisational and communication skills with other students and teachers of the College.

For the past few years I have become attached to Saint Ignatius’ Prayer for Generosity.

The specific verses that are significant to me are:

To give and not to count the cost,

To fight and not to heed the wounds,

To toil and not to seek for rest,

To labour and not to seek reward.

This prayer to me expresses the need to help those in need no matter who they are or what the job is and not to expect or receive any sort of reward. This belief also continues throughout my leadership within and outside the College. This kind of leadership I think is very important, as Saint Ignatius was very committed to serving others and this is to why he was one of the first leaders of a Religious Order to set up missionaries.

This year I have had the delight to be a part of our Arrupe Leaders. In this role I have aligned myself with the Environment Committee, and have contributed to multiple events throughout the year, a significant event this term has been the planting of succulents to make a garden wall in the Year 9 area. Aside from this, I have also participated in other various events additional to the Environment Committee, such as assisting Ms. Meagan Canaway and Mrs. Caroline Edmonds in a Year 7 Homeroom in Health and Maths respectively. The role has it challenges however the benefits that come from it well and truly overcome these challenges.

For the students of the College I commend you on your contributions to the school and wider communities and I further encourage those that have not taken up the opportunity to be involved in our tremendous College to do so. You could simply start tomorrow, maybe next week, but do not lose time to take up these opportunities. I urge all of you to take these opportunities and to continue to serve your College and wider communities.

I want to thank Saint Ignatius College for giving me a path in life and for giving me so many opportunities throughout the time that I have been here.

Brent Keast

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