Central Queensland University’s STEPS program will celebrate 20 years of success with a cocktail party for past and present staff and students at CQU Gladstone this Friday (6th October).

Around 150 staff, students and graduates will celebrate their personal success and the success of STEPS, the pre-university preparatory program that helps mature age students achieve their study ambitions.

The STEPS program first started at the Rockhampton campus in 1986 and was offered in Gladstone for the first time in 1989. Since then, hundreds of Gladstone adults have graduated from the STEPS program and gone on to complete tertiary studies.

Gladstone STEPS coordinator, Muriel Strahm said STEPS had provided the people of Gladstone with the opportunity to make positive changes in their lives through study.

“The majority of STEPS students didn’t graduate from high school but through our program they are able to obtain the skills necessary to enrol in university and go on to become anything they want to including teachers, engineers, accountants and psychologists,” said Ms Strahm.

A book celebrating the success of STEPS students over the past 20 years has also been published to mark the milestone.

The book includes the inspirational stories of STEPS students from across all CQU campuses including one Gladstone graduate, Amanda Patzwald.

Amanda enrolled in STEPS in 2001 and went on to complete a Bachelor of Learning Management with distinction in 2004. She is now teaching as a learning support/special needs teacher at a local high school.

In the STEPS book Amanda talked about her own personal journey of tertiary education.

“Taking the first step towards a change requires a desire. In life, it is easy to sit back and let familiarity guide us. We really do only get one chance at life and it is detrimental to happiness to resist all feelings to self improve, attempt new ventures or taste new achievements. My main driving force was the prospect of fulfilling the dream to become a teacher,” said Mrs Patzwald.

Anyone wishing to purchase a copy of the STEPS book should contact Muriel Strahm on 4970 7327.

Photo: STEPS lecturers, Phil Budgeon and Mike Connon with the STEPS book which celebrates 20 years of success.