Our Awards
Award success
Our talented staff and students regularly win national and international awards and our staff are often recognised with Ara teaching awards. Here are some examples of their recent successes.
2018
FHA Culinary Challenge, Singapore
Tutors Stuart Goodall, Mark Sycamore and Steve Le Corre were part of the NZChefs National Team which placed second in the FHA Culinary Challenge in Singapore. This is the fourth time New Zealand has competed in the FHA Challenge, but the first time that the team has made the final three of the prestigious competition.
2016
Culinary Olympics, Germany
Competing against 2000 chefs from more than 40 countries, the New Zealand team which included Ara cookery tutors Steve Le Corre, Mark Sycamore, Darren Wright, Richard Hingston and Corey Hume, won a silver and two bronze medals.
Ara Institute of Canterbury Excellence in Teaching
Awarded to Mandy Gould (Hairdressing and Beauty Therapy) for Integration of Technology.
2015
World Association of Chefs Societies
Awarded to Ara for achieving the WorldChefs’ Global Standards of Quality Culinary Education.
Ara Institute of Canterbury Excellence in Teaching
Awarded to Cheryl Stokes (Café/Bar Service) in recognition of Sustained Excellence in Teaching Practice.
2013
Tertiary Education Union Award of Excellence
Awarded to Tracey Coulthard (Travel & Tourism) in the category of student learning and participation.
Ara Institute of Canterbury Practitioner Award
Awarded to Tracey Coulthard (Travel & Tourism) for recognition of Excellent Practice in Teaching and Learning.
The Council for Australasian Tourism and Hospitality Education Conference
Awarded to Stanley Tawa (Cookery) for Best Poster Presentation: ‘Investigating the Culinary Authenticity of Hangi’.
2012
Ara Institute of Canterbury Practitioner Award
Awarded to David Spice (Cookery) for recognition of Excellent Practice in Teaching and Learning.
Ako Aotearoa Tertiary Teaching Excellence Awards, Sustained Excellence in Tertiary Teaching
Awarded to the Restaurant, Wine and Bar team of Heather Dyksma, Katrina Fisher, Katy Fortescue, Fancie Oberg-Nordt, Jenny Ritchie, Kent Slocombe, Cheryl Stokes and Susan Taylor.
2013
Nestlé Toque d'Or Supreme Gold Medal Award
New Zealand’s premier student culinary competition was won by our students Daniel Hoare (Cookery), Hannah Grieve (Cookery) and Gina Johns (Hospitality).