MECS Notes

Youth Design Challenge - Future of Finance Winners!

Throughout last semester, several students from Years 9 & 10 Business, Justice & Entrepreneurship class participated in the Youth Design Challenge program. This was to create a phone application, program or product to help younger Australians to see money differently with the theme of 'Future of Finance.' This was a national-scale competition that involved various student teams from over 100 schools all across Australia. 

Among the students from MECS who submitted their projects, Ethan Curtis & Spencer Noël not only made the finals but won the project and its prizes! The prizes include an invitation to a 3-day Youth Incubator (YINC) program in Sydney during the September school holidays (that will provide professional entrepreneurship training), extra support for budgeting, customer persona mapping, creating a minimal viable product, storytelling, crowdfunding, partnerships and networking, and a few mentorship programs from other entrepreneurs. 

I would like to congratulate Ethan and Spencer on winning the awards for this project and wish them the best with the programs they will be participating in for the rest of the year.

Future of Finance Youth Design Challenge Winners | Young Change Agents.

Jae Park

Secondary School Teacher/VCE History

Congratulations to Zephaniah Kunst

MECS is proud to announce Year 11 student, Zephaniah Kunst as the winner of the Cowey-Selman Kokoda Scholarship! This scholarship, worth $9000, gives the winning student the opportunity to hike the Kokoda Trail in Papua New Guinea.

On Sunday 30 July, Zeph was officially announced as the winner for 2023 at the Lilydale RSL, with Aaron Violi MP in attendance. 

In order to win the scholarship, Zeph needed to do some research on the historical significance of the Kokoda Trail and write an essay demonstrating his understanding of this.

The scholarship was instigated by the Mount Evelyn, Monbulk, Healesville and Lilydale RSL sub-branches, in conjunction with the 39th Infantry Battalion (1941-43) Association Inc. and Getaway Trekking Pty Ltd. It is an annual competition available to all Year 11 students studying at a Secondary College or High School in the Yarra Ranges.

Zeph will now begin training for the trek with Getaway Trekking and will undertake the challenge next April.

Congratulations Zeph on this exciting achievement and we look forward to hearing about your experience next year!

Here is a link to an article in the Star Mail News about this: https://mountevelyn.mailcommunity.com.au/news/2023-07-31/zephs-ready-to-tackle-kokoda/

Photos in this article are Courtesy of Star Mail News.

Amelia Koole

Senior Secondary, Careers & VET Coordinator

Second Busy Bees Playgroup

We are very excited to announce a second Busy Bees Playgroup!

Jemma, our Coordinator will be facilitating the group on Tuesdays 9:30am - 11am in the Piazza. This started last Tuesday 1st August.

We have a few places left so if you are interested in joining, please be in touch with Lauren at the Main Office for an enrolment form.