Three Ara accounting students recognised in CA ANZ excellence awards

_{Left to right: Mark Pirie, Lucy (Hanhui) Jiang, Leila Woods}

Ara Institute of Canterbury is celebrating the success of three accounting ākonga (students) who have been recognised for outstanding academic achievement.

Now in their second year, the excellence awards from the Chartered Accountants Australia and New Zealand (CA ANZ) Careers Engagement team celebrate top students across the Bachelor of Accounting programme. 

 The award recipients, celebrated at an event on campus, were:

• Leila Woods - Top First-Year Accounting Student
• Lucy (Hanhui) Jiang - Top Second-Year Accounting Student (back-to-back winner)
• Mark Pirie - Top Accounting Degree Student

Lead of CA ANZ Career Engagement – New Zealand, Robyn Nicholl, warmly congratulated the students at a celebration on campus. "What you've each achieved here is truly exceptional," she said. "The commitment and passion you've shown in your studies are exactly the qualities that will carry you far in your careers."

The awards also reflect the strong relationship between Ara and CA ANZ. Ara’s Portfolio Manager for Business and English, Heather Knox, expressed thanks for its continued support of the programme and its ākonga.

"CA ANZ is a key stakeholder in our accounting programme, and that close connection genuinely matters as it helps make sure we're delivering what the industry actually needs," she said.

Ara Senior Academic Joanne Fraser congratulated the three recipients and acknowledged the hard work behind the results.

"Anyone who's working through their degree knows what those late nights feel like. To see that effort recognised is a really proud moment," she said.

Fraser also thanked CA ANZ for shining a light on emerging talent. "This is something our students can put on their CV with real pride as they head into the workplace. We're grateful to CA ANZ for continuing to support them in that way."

_{Left to right: James Murray, Joanne Fraser, Robyn Nicholl (CA ANZ), Mark Pirie, Lucy (Hanhui) Jiang, Leila Woods, Nicky Hudson (CA ANZ)}

Top degree recipient Mark Pirie developed an early interest in accounting while working in a family business but knew he needed a formal grounding to take it further. He said completing his studies at Ara has given him that foundation - and more.

"I started as a trainee at Crowe Australasia during my final stages of study, securing an audit graduate role there felt like everything coming together at the right time. I'm still learning something new every day."

Top first-year award recipient Leila Woods said she was delighted by the recognition and proud of what she achieved in her first year of the Bachelor of Accounting.

After completing a New Zealand Diploma in Business (Leadership and Management) at Ara, Woods began her career in an administration role before moving into an accounts assistant position. She's chosen to return to Ara for her Bachelor of Accounting study because of the learning environment and the support she receives.

"My lecturers know my name, and if I reach out, I'll hear back from someone who actually knows where I'm at," she said. "In a big lecture theatre I think I'd just get lost. Here, I feel like I belong. I love my lecturers here."