Keeping it joyful and light hearted

The special day was opened with a whakatau from Pāora Puru (Ngāti Te Ata, Waiohua, Waikato-Tainui) to bring everyone into the space and give thanks for all those who have come before to lay down the paths that has led to the moment we were sharing.

Our MC, Te Mihinga Komene, Pou Ārahi for The Mind Lab and Tech Futures Lab, gave a lightness to the usually formal proceedings. She eased the nerves in the room as she led waiata, cracked jokes and gave everyone ‘permission’ to celebrate as authentically as they wished. Because although it’s a seriously important event, it need not be stuffy.

After a rousing speech given by CEO and Founder Frances Valintine, we got to cheer on and be a part of the personal history that each graduate in the room was making.

And celebrate authentically whanau and friends they did; with mihi, waiata and the occasional ‘that’s my mum!’ or ‘that’s my sister!’ called from the appreciating crowd.

Recognising those who go above and beyond

Although everyone who graduated on the day has accomplished an incredible step forward in their life journeys, there are some who shine extra bright.

This year we gifted the Lynley Schofield Award. Lynley was a much loved member of the Master of Contemporary Education programme team who passed away suddenly in January 2021. To honour the manaaki Lynley showed to all who knew her, and the resilience she fostered in all her learners, this award was given to a graduate who has shown resilience and perseverance throughout their study.

Lynley’s son, Ryan, presented the award to the recipient, Stephanie Ngarepa, Master of Contemporary Education, who received $2000 towards further study, research or expanding her work on a current project.

We also launched the inaugural Te Ara Kōtihi awards - four separate awards given to graduates who embody one of the four Te Ara Kōtihi values that ground The Mind Lab/ Tech Futures Lab: Manaaki, Ako, Pono and Rangatiratanga.

Recipients of these four awards were:

Manaaki: Karen Paku, Master of Contemporary Education.

Ako: Lilly Bartlett, Postgraduate Certificate in Leading Change for Good.

Pono: Maryann (Taki) Roberts, Postgraduate Certificate in Digital & Collaborative Learning.

Rangatiratanga: Bradley Walker, Janey Clark, Melanie Berryman & Tovia Va’aelua, Master of Technological Futures.

An exception was made for the Rangatiratanga award as these four individuals approached their learning through collective decision and effort to elevate their Master of Technological Futures experience and all those who came into contact with them through mihi, karakia and generosity of spirit in sharing and supporting one another.

We get to be proud too

For us, graduation is not just an event in The Mind Lab calendar. It’s a celebration that we are truly humbled to partake in. It’s the chance for the teaching teams to share in the joy with the people who they’ve watched grow, expand their horizons and in many cases, overcome adversity to reach this peak.

And so it goes that the relationships our teaching teams develop with our learners are often very close. There’s not many graduation events you'll attend where the programme facilitator is hugging every graduate as they’re capped (and knocking their caps off!), shedding tears of joy and taking selfies on stage.

Working at The Mind Lab / Tech Futures Lab is about lifelong learning and there’s no better way than to experience it ourselves. We’re very proud that four of our own team also graduated alongside many students they’ve had a hand in placing and teaching too. Congratulations to:

Milla Inkila, Postgraduate Certificate in Leading Change for Good (Postgraduate Director at The Mind Lab).

Amanda O’Neill, Postgraduate Certificate in Human Potential for the Digital Economy (Digital Specialist, Small Business Support at Digital Boost).

Fiona Pond, Postgraduate Certificate in Human Potential for the Digital Economy (Programme Lead at Tech Futures Lab).

Lisa Whittington-Slater, Postgraduate Certificate in Leading Change for Good (Outreach Manager at The Mind Lab).

We relish the aroha and relationships between our learners and facilitators and encourage all our learners to remain a part of The Mind Lab/ Tech Futures Lab extended whanau as they spread their wings and go forth to drive change and create impactful futures.

“The only way that we can live is if we grow. The only way that we can grow is if we change. The only way that we can change is if we learn. The only way we can learn is if we put ourselves beyond what is comfortable. And the only way that we can become uncomfortable is if we find the edges of our capability. It is through this process we discover just what we are really capable of.” - Frances Valintine.

Graduation: The Why to our What at The Mind Lab and Tech Futures Lab