Graduation in Sydney

Following a Welcome to Country from Uncle Michael West, the evening’s keynote speaker was introduced. Darren Keating works as the head art director for Cheeky Little in Sydney, a local studio that has taken on many AIT students and graduates as interns and animators. 

At Cheeky Little, Darren oversees shows such as Kazoops!, Spongo Fuzz and Jalapena, Kangaroo Beach and Vegesaurs. 

Keynote speaker, Darren Keating.

After hearing from our keynote speaker, it was time to see some of our graduates’ projects, and a student showreel of some of their completed works was shown. 

In the final year of their studies, our students complete a major project – this may take the form of an animated or live-action film, a game or mobile app. The finished products created by students (either individually or in production teams) are truly impressive, and as well as becoming vital to their portfolios, they are often entered into competitions and awarded for their excellence. 

Our student speaker in Sydney was Phillip Lim, graduate of AIT’s Bachelor of Information Technology (Games Programming). 

Student speaker, Phillip Lim and family.

Phillip attended graduation with his brother and parents, who are clearly very proud of his achievements. 

“Phillip is such a source of inspiration to all of us. We are very proud of how creative he is. We supported him and his decision to study Games Programming at AIT from the beginning. We’ve always known he’s got the talent to make anything happen.”

When asked about key moments during his studies, Phillip was keen to thank the educators who were there for him along the way.

“My takeaway is really the whole experience, but in particular I want to highlight the teachers’ support. Here teachers really foster you, they help you build your character and they are ready to support you all the time”. 

Phillip was followed on stage by some of his fellow graduates, who were awarded for their academic and personal achievements. 

The Academic Excellence Award for the Highest Grade Point Average amongst this graduating cohort went to Mariah Chloe Marfil, with an average GPA of 6.65 in the Digital Design Bachelor.

Executive General Manager, Ruby Biscuit, presents Mariah Chloe Marfil with the Academic Excellence Award.

In addition to the Academic Excellence Award each year, AIT recognises students who demonstrate the highest standards of character, integrity, and service to others and to our AIT community. Anthony Cheah, who studied our Bachelor of Digital Design, was the recipient of the Integrity Award.  

A Special Recognition Award was given to Raya Ihren for her outstanding dedication and contribution to building the AIT student community, while setting an example academically and socially.

Academic Director, Alex Gilbey, and Raya Ihren, recipient of the AIT Certificate of Recognition.

Graduation in Melbourne

Graduation in Melbourne began with a Welcome to Country from Wurundjeri woman, Stacie Piper, who acknowledged the home country of our graduates, and the land on which they had completed their studies.

Stacie Piper delivers the Welcome to Country.

Our student speaker, Jaymie Cruz delivered a beautiful speech to her fellow graduates, full of encouragement.

“Some of us will design breathtaking games, others will design cutting-edge websites, and some might come up with the next hit Netflix series. Our options are as diverse as our talents. 

“Let us embark on our individual pursuits with unshakeable confidence, enduring resilience, and an unyielding commitment to excellence. 

“Our education here has equipped us not only with the technical know-how, but also with the values that will guide us in our careers and the rest of our lives. Let us carry the spirit of exploration, empathy and collaboration with us as we venture into this ever-changing field.”  

Student speaker, Jaymie Cruz.

Once Jaymie left the stage it was time to hear from keynote speaker, Mike Aldrich of Toon Boom Animation, who encouraged our graduates to dream big in all their future endeavours. Having worked for some of the largest entertainment companies in Australia and around the world, Mike is certainly proof that these dreams can come true.   

Rica Mae Averion was the recipient of the Academic Excellence Award, for her exceptional performance in the Bachelor of Information Technology (Mobile Applications Development). 

Recipient of the Academic Excellence Award, Rica Mae Averion.

The AIT Integrity Award was presented to Jeremy Webb for his dedication as an AIT student ambassador and as a student mentor, as well as for his high GPA, excellent attendance and class participation. Jeremy is well regarded by his peers and educators, and has always found time to help his fellow students. 

AIT Integrity Award recipient, Jeremy Webb and Deputy General Manager, Ronan Mason.

Jeremy studied 2D Animation, and seemed almost surprised to receive recognition. When asked about a highlight of his time at AIT, Jeremy focused on the connections that he had made. 

“I guess last year would be a big highlight because I was able to come in to campus. Granted, I was still able to do my studies during lockdown, but it was great to be able to come in, meet people, meet my friends, and I built really solid connections, which was really fantastic. 

“And to be able to work on our final Forge film, Dream Dome, was all such a fantastic experience, and to be able to work with teachers who worked with studios like Disney, was just so amazing.” 

Please give our AIT graduates from 2022 and 2023 a final round of applause, as they now embark upon exciting careers in the creative industries.