Congratulations to Ms Karen Rogers, who won the Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander Student of the Year at the NT Training Awards on Saturday.

Karen studied Visual Arts with Batchelor Institute and is an arts worker at Ngukurr Art Centre

Karen is an Aboriginal woman from the Ngalakan clan, living in Ngukurr in South East Arnhem Land. She is a proud mother, grand-mother and great grand-mother with cultural responsibilities, and is a recent graduate of Batchelor lnstitute. Karen’s formal training in visual arts, her work at the Art Centre and her everyday life are intertwined; her work is her life and her life is her work.

As a student and artist, Karen has developed exponentially during her time at Batchelor. She is a natural-born mentor, is extremely personable with a warm and gentle disposition, is generous and thoughtful, is confident to try new things and sees failure as an opportunity to explore and learn. Karen is a genuine inspiration to all those around her, creating a sense of possibility and excitement for the future.

Karen is a strong, capable and fierce woman who shows leadership and initiative in her community, at her workplace and at Batchelor during her studies. She is an outstanding role model, especially for women, with a deep commitment to social justice and economic advancement. Karen shows people that there are opportunities in life if you are prepared to learn and work hard; both attributes she possesses.