Sam has a hospitable future ahead
 Sam Powell was winner of the 2007 Outstanding Student of the Year Vocational category. Sam Powell has gone from struggling school student to high achiever in hospitality.
The hospitality management student has won various accolades for his commitment to hospitality including his nomination as finalist for the 2007 Outstanding Student of the Year Awards in the Vocational category.
Sam completed a Vet in Schools hospitality program in Year 10 before beginning a cookery apprenticeship.
He worked as a chef in several hotels and restaurants around Melbourne before he went travelling around Europe and Asia.
“I came back and worked for a year. Then realised I wanted to be more than a chef so I came to Box Hill Institute to do the Certificate IV and Advanced Diploma in Hospitality Management,” he said.
“After working at the Grand Prix, I got a job with Spotless at the MCG, then through my TAFE teacher I got a job at the Big Group Events and Catering and became Assistant Operations Manager at Champions at Federation Square.”
Sam was also Managing Director of student-run business Ya-nique, set up through the Young Achievement Australia program.
For his efforts in YAA, which enables students to experience the establishment and running of a real business, Sam won the Victorian Tertiary Business Person of the Year Award.
Ya-nique’s product Sox Lox, clips to keep socks paired up in the wash, won the National Most Innovative Product Award.
“Studying at Box Hill Institute has so far given me the skills and the tools I need to work in hospitality and through the YAA program, I’ve learned practical business skills,” he said.
“The teachers at Box Hill Institute have been real mentors, and it’s really helped me to hear people’s experiences of the industry,” he said.
7 June 2007
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