Well done: Brigette is the recipient of the SENIA Student Award 2022.
SPECIAL needs learner Brigette Yasin made history recently when she became the first Malaysian to receive the prestigious Special Education Network & Inclusion Association (SENIA) Student Award.
The 17-year-old studies dressmaking at Keningau Vocational College which offers the course to students who communicate in sign language. The 2022 edition of the annual SENIA award saw the hearing-impaired student from Inanam, Sabah, feted due to her excellent achievements in sports.
This year, she set a new record by winning gold in the women’s 400-metre sprint and silver in the 200-metre sprint at the state level athletics championship for special needs individuals.
She then made the state proud by clinching silver in the same event at the national level championship.
Brigette, who regularly takes part in country runs and marathons, was also the leader of an all-female futsal team comprising special needs individuals who competed at a regional tournament.
In addition, she had led the school’s special needs bowling team in a series of competitions in Sabah.
Having won several medals in the sprint events in Malaysia, Brigette aspires to represent the country in the Paralympics in the future.
The SENIA award, which honours an individual annually for his or her work in special needs advocacy, comprises a cash award of US$1,500 (RM6,720), a plaque, a certificate and a speaking slot at the virtual SENIA conference, which took place yesterday.
In a statement to the media, Keningau Vocational College director Johari@Jaibet Sabin expressed his delight at her win.
“She has proven that special needs individuals are as talented and as capable as non-special needs individuals,” he said, adding that the community deserves to be recognised for their abilities.
