VCE Season of Excellence

The VCE Season of Excellence is a five-month annual festival showcasing outstanding senior secondary work from Victorian schools. The Season presents work created by VCE students across a range of subjects spanning design, technology, multi-media, performing arts and more. Just a small number of students are invited to participate and this year we congratulate Georgia Vander Vorm and James Crockett for their outstanding contributions.

Top Shots Georgia Vander Vorm

Georgia was among just 15 students to be invited to showcase her photographic work, from VCE Studio Art, at the annual Top Shots exhibition at the Museum of Australian Photography (MAPH). MAPH is considered the leading photographic gallery in Australia, so this is a significant achievement. Her work Dilapidated focuses on the perspective of damaged things and what manipulates them to imperfection.

Top Designs James Crockett

After showcasing his Steampunk Computer Case at last year’s Top Designs Exhibition at Melbourne

“Often the structures that are deemed beyond repair are abandoned, left with the manipulation of the environment to dictate its future. Structures I photographed were no longer in use but had once held significance to the local communities in which they stand. Reflecting the importance each structure once held by emulating the photographic presence of a building in pristine condition,” Georgia said.

Museum, James was again invited back for his VCE VET engineering piece, a Three Axis Robotic Arm. The piece uses aluminium, stainless steel and PLA+ to enable the safe handling of toxic waste or highly volatile substances in a hazardous environment. The use of aluminium, PLA+ and stainless steel all add chemical resistance to the robot, while waterproof electronics ensure operations can be performed both indoors and outdoors.

“I feel incredibly privileged to have been selected to have my work displayed at such a prestigious gallery and I look forward to using this experience to fuel further endeavours into the photography world,” she said.

Georgia was Subject Dux for Media and Studio Arts and is now studying a double degree in Business and Media at Monash University. Congratulations Georgia.

According to James being selected a second time round was even more special. “Having a piece selected for Top Designs was amazing, and even though this was my second time I still got this amazing feeling of accomplishment, particularly given it was for a different subject.

“Even though making a project with Top Designs in mind is very intense, with many aspects having to be perfectly executed, I would highly recommend other students give it a go. Even if you don't get in, the experience is thoroughly enjoyable,” James said.

James is now studying a Bachelor of Mechatronics (Honours) at Deakin University. Congratulations James, we look forward to seeing what’s next.