UCOL beauty therapy kaiako and ākonga gain national awards

UCOL are proud to celebrate the outstanding achievements of Melissa van Duin, UCOL Manawatū Beauty Lecturer, and New Zealand Diploma in Beauty Therapy ākonga, Shona Caswill, after winning gold and bronze at the national BeautyNZ Association Awards.

van Duin was crowned 2026 Tutor of the Year, and Caswill took out third place in the Student/Apprentice of the Year category.

van Duin says winning the award is incredibly humbling and supports her passion for helping her students achieve their goals and graduate with high level, industry-ready skills.

“The beauty industry is something I am deeply passionate about, and having the opportunity to help shape and inspire the next generation of beauty professionals through my tutor role is a responsibility I take seriously. Being recognised in this way is both an honour and a reminder of why I love what I do.”

Mel Lange, UCOL Academic Portfolio Manager - Service Industries, says UCOL’s beauty therapy and hairdressing Kaiako and ākonga are incredibly proud of both van Duin and Caswill, and their awards are a testament to the high standard of programmes and tutors UCOL provides and the calibre of students that are produced.

“Melissa’s award reflects her commitment to excellence, ongoing professional growth, and the genuine care and dedication she shows as a kaiako supporting ākonga entering the beauty industry. She consistently goes above and beyond to ensure her learners are confident, capable, and industry-ready. This recognition is very well deserved and highlights the strength and quality within our Hair and Beauty team.”

“Caswill’s placing at a national level is a fantastic achievement and reflects her dedication to developing her skills and professionalism throughout her studies. Her achievement reflects the passion she brings to the beauty industry and emphasises the quality learning and support we have for our ākonga within our beauty therapy programme at UCOL.”

van Duin says the awards night was a magical experience and highlighted her commitment to helping students achieve their goals and become the best they can be.

“Sitting there waiting for the Tutor of the Year to be announced, my heart was absolutely racing, so hearing my name called was a surreal and incredible moment.”

“For me, teaching goes beyond just the technical skills. It’s about helping students grow in confidence, discover their strengths, and believe in their ability to succeed in a competitive and ever-evolving industry. To have this recognised at a national level is incredible.”

She says the award belongs to the students as much as it does to her.

“Their dedication, growth, and enthusiasm make teaching so rewarding, and they continue to inspire me to be the best tutor I can be.”

After being hesitant at first to enter the awards, Caswill says she’s thankful van Duin encouraged and supported her to do so, as the process and result have been incredibly rewarding.

“It has helped grow my confidence as a skilled beauty therapist and shown me that you can do anything if you put your mind to it.”

van Duin says it was an incredibly proud moment seeing one of her students recognised for their hard work.

“It has been a privilege to support Shona on her journey. She is talented, dedicated, and passionate about her future in beauty therapy, and I have no doubt she will continue to achieve amazing things in our industry.”