Unexpected Changes through AUT Edge Award

AUT Edge Award Overall Achievement winner Jennifer Susanto with sponsor Gallagher representative Scott Cresswell

When Jennifer Susanto started AUT she had great ambition but little confidence.
“The AUT Edge Award led me on a rewarding and personally transformative journey, helping me flourish within and outside university,” she says.

Founding her own start up, Foodscrapz, along with many other achievements, led Jennifer to winning the AUT Edge Award Overall Achievement prize. 
“It was surreal realising that I won this prize when there were so many incredibly talented people in the room. I know the award has motivated me to do lots of things, but I was disbelieving about this. It was very rewarding to receive,” says Jennifer. She was one of five students to be recognised for their award achievements.

Foodscrapz is a service dedicated to providing young people with the skills to eat healthier through cooking lessons and introducing them to cheap and easy recipes.  Jennifer attracted 15-20 students to the classes each week which she ran at the AUT Recreation Centre.

Her other achievements included industrial design peer mentor and ambassador, Designer Institute of NZ student council member and first female executive of the AUT Startup Club.
“The award is a good way to try new things. For example I’d always wanted to volunteer for Library of Tools but it felt weird to just rock up and offer. The award made it much easier to approach them and through that I realised how people are really interested and keen to have your help.”

Jennifer says she was not only able to explore things she wanted to learn through the award, but it also opened her eyes to other activities she hadn’t realised she should know about, such as an elevator pitch and networking skills.
“I also realised that doing things is less daunting if you don’t expect to do them perfectly. I use this knowledge now in everyday life.”

Jennifer encourages other students to do the award but also to engage with the Employability and Careers services.
“I think it is cool that there is a team there that you can build up relationships with and get support from. University can be difficult to navigate and I found the Employability Lab gave me connections and a good place to go.”

What's involved with the AUT Employability Awards?

Employability Awards specialist Horowai Broederlow says the AUT Edge Award is open to all undergraduate AUT students, while the Beyond AUT Award is for postgraduate students.
“The Awards encourage students to be active either on campus or in their communities which increases their transferable skills and helps them connect. They can participate in a variety of ways – including in clubs, volunteering for charities or conservation activities – and once completed the award is formally acknowledged on their academic transcript.”

*The AUT Edge Award involves a minimum of 50 hours of volunteering, 18 hours of leadership, 14 employability workshops and a personal reflection.

*The Beyond AUT Award involves 35 hours of volunteering, 12 hours of leadership, seven employability activities and a personal reflection.

*Once completed the award appears on students’ academic transcript.

Want to know about our services?

Find out more by contacting autedge@aut.ac.nz or looking at our webpage

Come and visit us at the Employability Lab at WA202 on the city campus.

Use Elab Online, our online portal, to book into events and appointments that are offered in person and online.

Written by AUT Employability and Careers writer Angela McCarthy