Alexander Holmes, a year 10 student, was the recipient of a VACC Automotive Design Award in the secondary school category and was presented with the award at a ceremony in Melbourne recently. 

"I am thrilled to win an award and can’t thank VACC enough," Mr Holmes said. 

"I am passionate about vehicle design and can’t wait to become a professional designer."

The awards are an annual student design competition for the state's secondary and tertiary students, which aims to promote skills, training and careers in the automotive design industry. 

Mr Holmes won $500 and an invitation to an automotive design masterclass at Monash University. 

He was also selected for the Ford Internship Program. 

The judging panel comprising of Ford's exterior design manager Andy Collinson, GM Holden design director Nic Hogios and Toyota corporate manager Paul Beranger, who described Mr Holmes' entry as contemporary and a good demonstration of hard-based rendering. 

"Many congratulations to Alexander. He’s clearly a skilled designer with a big future ahead of him," VACC executive director David Purchase said. 

Now in its ninth year the VACC has donated $18,000 in total prize money.

"Well done to this year’s entrants and winners. We thank Minister David Hodgett for presenting the awards, the judging panel, and Ford president and chief executive Bob Graziano for announcing the recipients of the Ford Internship Program,” Mr Purchase said.