18-year-old Kevin Castle from Kent Street Senior High School has been awarded the prestigious Beazley Medal as the top student in the state for Vocational Education and Training (VET).
Castle, who completed his Certificate II in Aeroskills, spent a significant number of hours in the workplace, gaining valuable hands-on experience, demonstrating the most outstanding overall performance in the VET pathway.
He said he hopes to start an apprenticeship with the Royal Flying Doctor Service in 2025 and looks forward to pursuing a career in the aircraft maintenance engineering field.
In a statement released on Facebook, Kent Street Senior High School was proud to congratulate Castle on his achievement and praised his dedication to his education.
“Kevin has dedicated himself to his studies with passion and is a very deserving and humble recipient, proclaiming that his family means everything and without them and his Aviation teachers, he wouldn’t be standing where he is today.” the statement read.
“Thank you to SCSA (the School Curriculum and Standards Authority) for recognising the monumental efforts of Kevin and his family, and thank you also to the Hon. Kim Beazley and Mr Jay Peckitt, Director General, for joining in celebrating today’s recipient.”
Castle also received the VET Exhibition and a VET Certificate of Excellence in the Automotive, Engineering, and Logistics industry area.
The Beazley Medal is named in honour of Kim Beazley Sr., the Federal Education Minister during the Whitlam government.
His son, the former Governor of Western Australia and Deputy Prime Minister of Australia, Kim Beazley, was present at the award ceremony held last month, along with his daughter, the Member for Victoria Park, Hannah Beazley.
Ethan Yap from Perth Modern School was the recipient of the other prestigious Beazley Medal in the Western Australian Certificate of Education (WACE) category.
Yap earned a General Exhibition, a Physics Subject Exhibition, Certificates of Excellence for Chemistry, Economics, Mathematics Specialist, and Physics, and a Certificate of Distinction.
WA Education Minister Dr Tony Buti said Ethan and Kevin should enjoy this moment and be proud of their achievements.
“A student’s journey through school is a collective effort. I acknowledge the contributions made to all our students’ achievements through the engagement of parents and caregivers, school leaders and staff, and the community,” he said.
“I congratulate Ethan and Kevin on being the recipients for Western Australia’s peak awards for senior secondary students. To be awarded a Beazley Medal is an outstanding achievement. Both Ethan and Kevin have worked hard for this moment and are reaping the rewards of their efforts,”
A total of 4,092 awards were given to 3,722 students in 2024, including 50 General Exhibitions, one General Exhibition (Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander), 39 Subject Exhibitions and one Special Subject Award.
Rossmoyne Senior High School and Willetton Senior High School were among the schools with the highest number of General Exhibition winners.
