Graduation & Awards
ICE Graduation and Awards Night
Each November, ICE hosts its “Night of Nights”, the ICE Graduation and Awards Night. It’s one big party and a night full of excitement, pride, tears, achievements and awards.
Every student has their moment in the spotlight on the stage to share with their families and friends. All ICE graduates get to wear a royal blue ‘cap and gown’ and are treated like superstars on the night. Everyone from our Certificate I in Hospitality students right up to our students graduating from our Diploma program, are invited to attend. Nobody is left behind this night! All the staff celebrates with the students and it’s our favourite night on the ICE calendar. We love watching all our students swell with pride as they walk across the stage.
Nobody knows how to celebrate like our ICE graduates. Come and study at ICE and be part of our truly wonderful ICE Graduation each year.
Graduation Awards
Student of the Year Award
The graduation night culminates with the final award of the night The ICE Student of the Year, our most prestigious competition. The award is much coveted, fiercely fought over, hotly competed for and eagerly anticipated by everyone.
Each year, the ICE teachers, Directors and staff choose 10 finalists from a very talented array of ICE final year students.
Selection Process
The competition is judged by three of the best-known and critically acclaimed chefs in Brisbane each year and 20 VIP diners are invited to the Coorparoo Campus to taste test the final dishes. Our industry sponsors donate the ingredients for the cook-off.
The standard gets better and better each year and along with us at ICE and the industry judges, we are all blown away by the food and presentation produced.
History of the Award
This annual award began in 2014 with the first winner being Anthony Nguyen. Anthony won a trip to stage at the ‘Waldorf Astoria Hotel’ in New York City for 2 weeks. There have been 9 annual winners since then. Listed below are some of those winners.
2015 winner Jaala Croft (the first female to win the much coveted award), who staged at the Best Restaurant in the World: ‘Eleven Madison Park’ also in NYC for two weeks.
Nic Raffo was our 2016 winner, followed by Craig Brunton in 2017 and last year’s winner Eugene McCarthy in 2018, all of whom also travelled to NYC to stage and work in ‘Eleven Madison Park’. They also staged at ‘NoMad Hotel’, Runner and Stone Bakery (voted the number 1 bakery in NYC) and dined at Cosme (the World’s Best Mexican Restaurant outside of Mexico) and Per Se (3 Michelin Star restaurant owned by America’s highest awarded and greatest chef, Thomas Keller).
Most Recent
Now in 2024 our student winner stages at The Ledbury and Restaurant Gordon Ramsay both 3 Michelin starred London restaurants and rides in luxury on the Orient Express in Venice. Thanks to our sponsor UNOX Australia.
Who knows who this year’s winner might be? All ICE students work above and beyond to be selected for this coveted completion each year. The standard seems to be getting better and better.
A Variety of Competitions Awarded
Throughout the year many ICE students are encouraged to compete in a variety of competitions such as Golden Chef’s Hat, Proud to be a Chef and other competitions.
Graduation & Awards Gallery
“Night of Nights”
