In 2023, the College introduced new awards to be presented to Year 12 students at the Valedictory Dinner. Each award is linked to a person in the Salesian story, as it creates another opportunity to share the charism and make them come to life in the contemporary times in which the student receives them, ‘honouring the past, shaping our future’. The awards are aligned to our College vision, mission and values, highlighting service to others in the community.
Students and staff nominated these recipients to receive these awards, with the Leadership Team determining the awardees to recognise achievements in the community.
Bartholomew Garelli Awards
The Principal’s Award is an occasional award which may be presented to a Year 12 student, who has achieved commendably in Year 12, in spite of some particular hardships which he has had to contend with throughout the year and throughout his VCE journey. Like Bartholomew Garelli, the student recipient is resilient, persistent, is humble, yet quietly confident.
The recipients of the 2025 Bartholomew Garelli Award is Mahdyar Sabzi Vand and Harrison Kukulovski
Mahdyar Sabzi Vand
Mahdyar has experienced and overcome many obstacles and challenges throughout his life and even this year, has spent a lot of time living separate to his family. Despite this, he enthusiastically attends school every day with a smile on this face and a polite demeanour. He is not deterred from seeking joy despite his experiences, rather, uses them to show the value of connection and respect in all of his interactions.
Mahdyar is a humble, hardworking, inspirational young man who lives out the College values every single day. He builds his peers up, supporting them in their studies, as well as excelling and achieving outstanding results in all of his own subjects.
Harrison Kukulovski
Harrison has faced significant challenges in his personal life, especially across his VCE journey, yet continues to find positives in the day to day. He shows a quiet determination and perseverance, highlighting his strength and fortitude when faced with circumstances beyond his control.
Harrison is resilient in the face of adversity and continues to contribute to the College, particularly through his dedication to the arts. He has never been afraid to step up, also getting involved in debating, public speaking and ACC sport. He shows persistence to attend school, engage with his lessons and be a good friend despite everything he is balancing, which is inspiring and has a positive impact to our community.
Michael Rua Awards
The Michael Rua Award (VCE Scored) goes to a student who, over his time at the College, has:
- Achieved outstanding academic results consistently during his six years at the College,
- Demonstrated a consistent approach to achieving personal excellence and,
- Shared his skills and knowledge by participating in authentic, collaborative learning that enriched others
The recipient of the 2025 Michael Rua (VCE Scored) is Alexander Liberis
Alexander Liberis
Alexander has demonstrated a strong and consistent commitment to the College community across his time at Salesian, through his unwavering dedication to our learning environment. He is committed to ongoing attendance at VCE Help sessions after school, working with peers to excel as a collective.
Alexander makes the most of every opportunity to learn and is diligent in the way he implements the feedback he willingly seeks from his teachers. This has led to him achieving consistently excellent results in all of his subjects. Above all, he has remained humble and appreciative over the course of the year, maintaining motivation and tenacity as he manages the ongoing demands of Year 12.
Anthony Riccardi
Anthony has demonstrated consistent dedication to the VM program at the College. He is a joyous and polite individual, and positive role model for his peers. He has demonstrated a strong commitment to both his studies at the College and to his external commitments, balancing the requirements and responsibilities of work, Tafe and school.
Throughout the year, Anthony has shown exceptional organisation, time management and enthusiasm in all of his classes, excursions and projects the VM students have organised and participated in. As a result, he has keenly developed skills to set him up successfully for his future pathway and career.
Omnia Awards
The Omnia Award is given to a student who, over his time at the College, has:
- Made an outstanding contribution to community service within, or on behalf, of Salesian College, thus living out our College motto of “all things to all people” and,
- Demonstrated community mindedness and action, which is selfless, voluntary and regular, without the expectation of reward or recognition.
The recipients of the 2025 Omnia Award is Thomas Maguire-Nguyen and James Gatto
Thomas Maguire-Nguyen
Thomas is a hardworking and conscientious young man, and his contribution and dedication to the College over the last 6 years cannot be understated. He has displayed a commendable community mindedness, through leading and participating in various initiatives that have helped shape the culture, structure and learning within Salesian, some of which include:
- Representing the College in numerous debating and public speaking events, and helping shape the confidence of others in this sphere
- Participating in immersion programs to Samoa and Cape York
- Helping shape the College’s Child Safety Committee and actively campaigning for a safer environment for all
There are countless other events which could be listed to encapsulate how Thomas has contributed to our community, but above all, he has remained humble in his achievements and never boastful; he takes genuine enjoyment in being a Salesian student.
Lastly, somehow, Thomas has managed to excel in his leadership role as Year 12 Cultural Ambassador, and balance his learning commitments and positive relationships with staff and students.
James Gatto
James is a quiet and humble member of the Year 12 cohort. He is truly ‘all things to all people’ as our motto ‘Omnia Omnibus’ suggests, and has an intuitive way of recognising when one of his peers needs support. He is selfless in the time he gives to others, and he never expects anything in return for his ongoing support.
James is never judgemental, always inclusive and exudes a kindness that is at the core of his being. This student’s contribution and dedication to the College comes in the form of his Salesian charism; he is universally loved and respected by the cohort.
Dominic Savio Award
The Dominic Savio Award is given to a student who, over his time at the College, has:
- Demonstrated personal growth and maturity,
- Had significant involvement in artistic or sporting endeavours,
- Endeavoured ‘above and beyond’ in some capacity and has been actively involved in the wider College community.
The recipient of the 2025 Dominc Savio Award is Jack Waters.
Jack Waters
Jack has demonstrated a great commitment to the cohort and College this year, particularly through his artistic endeavours. His contributions to the design work for the Year 12 Formal and the digital promotion of the Soccer Festival helped create an enthusiastic environment and engagement for both events.
Through this, Jack developed marketing material and helped organise the events, all the while not expecting anything in return but doing so for his peers’ enjoyment. He is also a passionate leader, particularly when representing Savio house, who has acted with integrity and joy in serving the school community in 2025.
St Francis De Sales Award
The St Francis De Sales Award goes to a student who, over his time at the College, has:
- Consistently embodied, exhibited and promoted the vision, mission and values of the College in his conduct and relationships – both within and beyond the College community
- Demonstrated the Salesian charism of a ‘strong mind and gentle heart’ and a ‘loving kindness’ in his relationships with others.
The recipient of the 2025 St Francis De Sales Award is Abel Ebi Joseph.
Abel Ebi Joseph
Abel is an exemplary servant leader of the cohort, is always willing to uphold the College Values and encourages others to do the same. As he has moved through his 6 years at Salesian, he has presented himself in a manner that has been quietly and consistently excellent in all his pursuits, embodying the Salesian charism.
Abel serves in the community and is involved in many aspects of college life, particularly through his role as Social Justice Captain in 2025. He is selfless and generous with the time he dedicates to others and has passionately led initiatives this year for Young Vinnies, Green Alliance, Caritas and Salesian Missions, whilst still maintaining all of his other Year 12 commitments.
