Celebrating Student Success

Indyanna-Rose Ciccone

Indyanna-Rose Ciccone, 13, lives in the rural town of Yarroweyah, Victoria. She is a Year 8 student at our College. Indyanna enjoys dance, socialising, Muay Thai and more recently, pageantry!

Indyanna is the youngest finalist in the Australian International Pageant. She is in the Miss Teen section, and the only representative for Victoria out of 100's of applications.  After competing in her first pageant in November, the Miss Teen Australia Continents Pageant 2017, she placed 7th overall and won the Charity Crown (again being the youngest in the section). The Director, Kim Cancellier, introduced Indyanna to Ferial Youakim, Director of the Australian International Pageant and Ferial invited Indyanna to apply!

Mrs, Ms, Miss and Miss Teen Australia International are competitions that recognise gifted women from across the continent. Unlike pageants that focus mainly on beauty, this contest emphasises the talents, the accomplishments, the personalities, and the societal contributions of its participants.

As part of her pageant, Indyanna chose to promote awareness of and raise funds for Aussie Helpers! Aussie Helpers, run by Brian & Nerida Egan alongside their daughter Sam; is a charity that supports farming of all types; she felt it was fitting coming from a rural community. Indyanna wants to raise awareness of the current farming crisis and the effects it is having on the farmers and their families; including an increase in physical and mental health issues, poverty and suicide. Indyanna wants to assist people who are facing challenges within the farming industries, so they can see the light at the end of the tunnel. Indyanna's grandparents and uncle are farmers, so she has witnessed the devastation first hand, hence, this so this is close to her heart.

Indyanna has raised in excess of $1500 through her fundraising efforts.  She has volunteered her time to co-host events for Aussie Helpers including a Breakfast in a Bag luncheon to uplift farming women.

With just over 2 weeks left until the pageant commencing on the 19th and with crowing the 22nd of February, Indyanna is hoping to fit in another fundraiser!

Indyanna will continue to support Aussie helpers once the pageant is finished as she has recognised the real need within the community and believes no human or animal should go without the basic necessities for survival! 

Indy’s fundraising page is https://give.everydayhero.com/au/indy-rose-miss-teen-australia-international

If successful in winning the crown, Indyanna will go on to compete in the pageant internationally in the United States.

We wish Indyanna-Rose every success!

Mariah Tejones

Mariah Tejones is a Year 10 student at Cobram Secondary College and national finalist in the Miss Teen Galaxy. The Teen Galaxy pageant Mission Statement states that they ‘aim to provide the motivation and tools for all delegates to become the best possible version of themselves, to become role models to their peers, their family and their community, be that through charity work, involvement within the community, volunteering, overcoming fear or gaining more confidence.’ As a member of the 2018 Cobram Secondary Advance class, Mariah is able to transfer many of these skills of leadership and community service between her pageant pursuits and work towards the completion of the Bronze Duke of Edinburgh’s Award.

Mariah has reached the prestigious honour of being one of 3 Victorian Finalists to join 22 other young women from around the nation in Surfer’s Paradise from March 14 – 18, 2018. As a competitor, Mariah will have to participate in a variety of tasks, including photographic shoots, fashion wear, swimwear and evening gown components. During the proceedings, Mariah will attend an Eco Party where she will be required to design and wear an environmentally friendly outfit

However, this is an event that seeks to promote charity work through volunteering, Mariah has partnered with the ‘Make a Wish’ Foundation and is seeking to raise funds for this great cause. She is also completing volunteer work with the local primary school, helping with the reading programme and reaching out to assist at the wildfire and rescue shelter in Koonoomoo.

We wish Mariah the very best in her efforts. The winner will go on to complete in Florida, USA in July 2018.

If you would like to help Mariah raise funds, please follow the link below.

Go Fund Me Link: https://www.gofundme.com/pmekt3-make-a-wish-foundation

Congratulations to Year 11 Student Tristan Grinter