Big win for ocean conservation with ‘Elegant Throne'
Jean-ius idea: (From left) Francis George, Benedict and Nur Nadia Natasya proudly displaying their award-winning upcycled chair.
KOTA KINABALU: The combined creativity of three final-year Sabah cosmetology students clinched the top spot in the handicraft category of the 2025 International Ocean Conservation Creative Competition.
A cleverly upcycled 'stool chair' made from discarded plastic bottles, newspapers, bags, wood scraps, wire and rags clothes, the winning work was designed not just for style – it could help beauticians perform outdoor pedicures.
Named the 'Elegant Throne', the multifunctional seat even includes a compartment to store pedicure tools.
Led by Bevanny Adelia Benedict, with teammates Annyss Anastacia Francis George and Nur Nadia Natasya Ahmad Zainul Ariffin, the 19-year-olds from the Keningau Vocational College (KVC) won over the judges with their sustainable approach, combining creativity, aesthetics and practicality to address the global issue of plastic waste.
'We wanted to show that even trash can be made useful. This project has given me confidence to create something innovative and practical,' said Benedict, describing her experience as invaluable as she prepares for her final year.
The trio drew inspiration from a prototype created by their seniors, which they improved by making it lighter.
KVC director Lumang Lang commended the team for embodying the spirit of vocational learning.
'Our students are taught to think critically and act creatively using their technical skills.
'This project demonstrates the power of vocational education in addressing real-world problems through innovation,' he said.
The 'Elegant Throne' aligns with the competition's theme of ocean conservation, promoting awareness around the dangers of plastic waste to marine life and ecosystems.
The students concluded their over three-minute video presentation with a poignant message that resonated with the judges: 'A simple seat with a simple promise: to waste less and care more.'
Organised online by the International Youth and Children's Education Association, the competition drew entries from young innovators worldwide, with the results announced last week on its website.
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The Star
19-06-2025
- The Star
Big win for ocean conservation with ‘Elegant Throne'
Jean-ius idea: (From left) Francis George, Benedict and Nur Nadia Natasya proudly displaying their award-winning upcycled chair. KOTA KINABALU: The combined creativity of three final-year Sabah cosmetology students clinched the top spot in the handicraft category of the 2025 International Ocean Conservation Creative Competition. A cleverly upcycled 'stool chair' made from discarded plastic bottles, newspapers, bags, wood scraps, wire and rags clothes, the winning work was designed not just for style – it could help beauticians perform outdoor pedicures. Named the 'Elegant Throne', the multifunctional seat even includes a compartment to store pedicure tools. Led by Bevanny Adelia Benedict, with teammates Annyss Anastacia Francis George and Nur Nadia Natasya Ahmad Zainul Ariffin, the 19-year-olds from the Keningau Vocational College (KVC) won over the judges with their sustainable approach, combining creativity, aesthetics and practicality to address the global issue of plastic waste. 'We wanted to show that even trash can be made useful. This project has given me confidence to create something innovative and practical,' said Benedict, describing her experience as invaluable as she prepares for her final year. The trio drew inspiration from a prototype created by their seniors, which they improved by making it lighter. KVC director Lumang Lang commended the team for embodying the spirit of vocational learning. 'Our students are taught to think critically and act creatively using their technical skills. 'This project demonstrates the power of vocational education in addressing real-world problems through innovation,' he said. The 'Elegant Throne' aligns with the competition's theme of ocean conservation, promoting awareness around the dangers of plastic waste to marine life and ecosystems. The students concluded their over three-minute video presentation with a poignant message that resonated with the judges: 'A simple seat with a simple promise: to waste less and care more.' Organised online by the International Youth and Children's Education Association, the competition drew entries from young innovators worldwide, with the results announced last week on its website.
The Star
18-06-2025
- The Star
From trash to 'throne': Keningau students bag a top prize in global conservation contest
Teenagers (left to right) Anastacia Francis George, Bevanny Adelia Benedict and Nur Nadia Natasya Ahmad Zainul Ariffin turned trash to throne and won brought home international award. KOTA KINABALU: The combined creativity of three Keningau Vocational College (KVC) final-year cosmetology students earned them top honours in the handicraft category of the 2025 International Ocean Conservation Creative Competition. Their winning creation? A cleverly upcycled chair made from discarded plastic bottles, newspapers, bags, wood scraps, wire and old clothes. The multifunctional "Elegant Throne" was designed not just for style but also for functionality, to help beauticians perform pedicures outdoors. It even includes a compartment to store pedicure tools. The competition, organised by the International Youth and Children's Education Association, drew entries from young innovators worldwide. The results were announced on Friday (June 13) via the association's website. Bevanny Adelia Benedict (team leader), Annyss Anastacia Francis George and Nur Nadia Natasya Ahmad Zainul Ariffin, all 19, wowed judges with their sustainable approach that combined creativity, aesthetics and practicality to address the global issue of plastic waste. 'We wanted to show that even trash can be turned into something beautiful and useful. This project has given me confidence in my ability to create something innovative and practical,' said Benedict. She described the experience as 'invaluable' as she prepares for her final-year project and plans to pursue university studies. The project drew inspiration from a prototype created by their seniors, which the trio improved upon, making it lighter and more comfortable. KVC director Lumang Lang commended the team for embodying the spirit of vocational learning. 'Our students are taught to think critically and act creatively using their technical skills. "This project demonstrates the power of vocational education in addressing real-world problems through innovation,' he said. The 'Elegant Throne' aligns with the competition's theme of ocean conservation, promoting awareness of the dangers of plastic waste to marine life and ecosystems. In their video presentation highlighting their design, the students concluded with a poignant message that resonated with the judges: 'A simple seat with a simple promise – to waste less and care more.' Their work not only won international recognition but also delivered a meaningful reminder that with vision and teamwork, even rubbish can be transformed into hope.
Borneo Post
17-06-2025
- Borneo Post
Keningau students' chair wins Ocean Conservation Creative Competition
Annyss, Bevanny and Nadia with their upcycled beauticians' bar stool. KOTA KINABALU (June 17): A team of Cosmetology students from Keningau Vocational College (KVC) have been chosen as the champion of the handicraft category in the 2025 International Ocean Conservation Creative Competition for the youth age group. The results of the competition, organized by the International Youth and Children's Education Association, were officially announced on June 13 on its website. The team consists of three final-year students: Bevanny Adelia Benedict, Annyss Anastacia Francis George, and Nur Nadia Natasya Ahmad Zainul Ariffin. Their project is a stool chair made from recycled materials designed to allow beauticians to perform pedicure outdoors. The bench chair was made from plastic bottles filled with old newspapers and plastic bags, tightly bound and reinforced with discarded items such as wood panels, wires and used clothing. The stool also includes a compartment for storing tools required for foot treatments. They named the chair 'Elegant Throne' to symbolize the importance of creativity and aesthetic elements in creating practical products using recycled materials. The project's concept aligned with the theme of the competition, which is ocean conservation, as plastic waste is one of the main threats to marine life in saltwater and to animals that rely on ocean habitats. The team leader, Bevanny Adelia, stated that the project has the potential to become a social enterprise that can have a positive impact on the environment and the community. The college director, Lumang anak Lang, expressed immense pride in the students' achievement, noting that the project not only required creativity but also needed to be designed with careful consideration of the materials used specifically waste materials. He emphasized that vocational college education always prioritizes the application of vocational skills and knowledge in innovation. Their competition video can be accessed at:
