TAFE Western Sydney Institute (WSI) has turned to Nova’s Michael ‘Wippa’ Wipfli who today launched “The Wippabald Prize” to promote the school.

The inaugural Wippabald Prize calls for entrants to produce an interpretive portrait of Wippa.

Director, strategic marketing and media relations for TAFE WSI, Craig McCallum, said: “The Wippabald Prize was intended as a bit of a tongue-in-cheek take on another famous art prize for our students using our ambassador, Wippa. We’re more than happy to extend it out to the general public as it helps emphasise that further education is not boring. TAFE WSI works hard to ensure VET is an enjoyable and relevant learning experience for our students and we constantly look for innovative, fun ways to achieve that.”

The winning entry will be featured on a wraparound ad for TAFE WSI on a Western Sydney Busways bus.

In addition to the partnership with Nova, the campaign is supported by an integrated social media and PR campaign, Facebook advertising.

Wippa said: “I had a lot of fun recreating some famous people and poses; Rodin’s The Thinker, Mr. President (Abraham Lincoln) and my own take on Master and Commander – no offence, Russell; and I look forward to seeing the entries. Mum always said I had a face for radio so, hopefully, this will prove her wrong.”

In addition to cash and other prizes, winning entries will be displayed in an exhibition at the Joan Sutherland Performing Arts Centre in Penrith in September 2014.

One of the judges of the competition is acclaimed artist Leo Robba, a finalist in the 2014 Sir John Sulman Prize and a teacher at TAFE WSI’s. He will be joined on the judging panel by Fitzy, Lee- Anne Hall, Director of the Penrith Regional Gallery & The Lewers Bequest.

The Wippabald Prize, while providing a direct focus on artistic ability, is just one of the innovative ways TAFE WSI approaches educational programs to maximise student engagement complemented with a strong focus on student outcomes such as pathways to a first job, a promotion or university.