While accolades for on-field success is highly sort after by many football players, a number of WRFL juniors will be honoured for their leadership off the field at tonight’s Whitten Project Graduation ceremony.
Of the 43 young leaders involved with The Whitten Project, six of them hail from WRFL clubs, including Sunshine, Williamstown Juniors, Point Cook, Newport Power and Spotswood.
Sunshine Football Club duo Jack Kessegian and Scott Peacock-Pereira, Williamstown Juniors’ William McKenzie, Point Cook’s Nicholas Papakalodoukas, Newport Power’s Adam Kaddour and Spotswood’s Tom Chambers are among the class of 2014 receiving certificates for their contribution to the project this season.
In its second year of operation, The Whitten Project aims to inspire the next generation of leaders in the west by providing young men and women in Years 9-10 an exciting range of experiences which builds on leadership skills and personal development.
Whitten Project Manager Mark De Campo said that the graduation ceremony was a great opportunity to come together and celebrate a year’s worth of hard work.
“Everyone’s extremely excited for tonight’s ceremony,” De Campo said.
“It’s been a big commitment over the last seven months, so to come together tonight and acknowledge that contribution is really special.”
Working with elite sporting coaches, players, local councils and community groups, the young leaders have been involved in running a host of local activities, including running school sport programs, fundraising initiatives and guest speaking at the WRFL Junior Presentation Night earlier this year.
“While the leaders involved in the WRFL Junior Presentation Night were a little apprehensive at first getting up to speak in front of 500 people, they all really enjoyed the experience,” De Campo said.
“It’s not every day young people get that opportunity to do that, so we really appreciated the chance to be a part of the night and look forward to doing it again in 2015.”
Over 200 people are expected to be in attendance at tonight's Graduation ceremony, including special guests Western Bulldogs chief executive Simon Garlick, Melbourne Vixens star Bianca Chatfield and senior council representatives from surrounding local governments.
Western Region Football League chief executive Bob Tregear said that the representation of WRFL juniors in The Whitten Project was a sign of healthy clubs in the future.
“With 14 per cent of Whitten Project graduates involved in WRFL clubs, it can only mean good signs for our football community in years to come, with these young leaders potentially leading our clubs in the future,” Tregear said.
For more information on The Whitten Project, please visit http://www.westernbulldogs.com.au/community/community-engagement/the-whitten-project
Last Modified on 27/10/2014 14:15