UniSQ Student Awards

Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander culture has a deep and rich history spanning thousands of years, and UniSQ is proud to support First Nations students through their University journey. This Award goes to an Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander student who has demonstrated outstanding involvement and commitment to the Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander community, making a positive and substantial impact with their undertakings.

2024 Recipients:

• Dennis Arthur (Winner)
• Lowana Walker (Highly Commended)
• Jaimie-Lee Beale (Highly Commended)

Study sits at the heart of University life, and UniSQ students have the opportunity to enrich their study journey with a wide range of extra-curricular activities. This Award goes to a student who has demonstrated a high level of academic success while actively engaging in a range of extra-curricular and co-curricular activities, including sports, leadership, arts, cultural endeavours, student clubs, and community service.

2024 Recipients:

• Ramildo Etisson de Souza Passos (Winner)
• Zachary Vellacott (Highly Commended)
• Ashley Maber (Highly Commended)

Clubs and Societies help students connect with the University community, learn new skills, develop lifelong friendships, and take part in a range of activities that matter to them. Recognising how important Clubs and Societies are to student life, this Award goes to a UniSQ affiliated club that has had a positive and substantial impact within the University, its community, and overall student life, and who also demonstrates a commitment to continuous improvement and the development of new initiatives.

2024 Recipients:

• Toowoomba Dungeons and Dragons Club (Winner)
• UniSQ Badminton Club (Highly Commended)
• UniSQ Toowoomba Engineering Club (Highly Commended, Young Club)

UniSQ students can put their leadership skills into real-life action through service, identifying issues that matter to them and taking the initiative to make a positive difference to their local communities. This Award goes to a student who has demonstrated active and enthusiastic participation in community service or volunteering initiatives, with an evidenced positive impact on the community in which they live.

2024 Recipients:

• Lucy Golding (Winner)
• Pujan Patel (Highly Commended)
• Michael Tilley (Highly Commended)

UniSQ is proud to respect, value, and champion the rich variety of cultural identities, languages, and beliefs within the University. The diversity and multiculturalism that makes up the student cohort is a strength that lends itself to all aspects of a student’s journey, and this Award goes to a student who has demonstrated a commitment to diversity, equity, and inclusivity, with an outstanding contribution to supporting UniSQ’s international communities.

2024 Recipients:

• Ujwal Jha (Winner)
• A H M Farhad Palash (Highly Commended)
• Tapan Sheth (Highly Commended)

UniSQ recognises the value of student partnership in creating a more inclusive, equitable and effective learning environment. Amplifying the student voice empowers students to take an active role in speaking up and shaping their education and the governance of the University, and students who engage in partnership roles represent the student voice by building and fostering collaborative relationships with staff, students, and stakeholders. These student representatives volunteer their time to actively contribute to their learning journey and improve the student experience for all of their peers.

This Award goes to a member of the Student Senate, Student Representative Committee (SRC), Academic and Governance Student Representatives (ASR), or a student Project Partner who has fully immersed themselves in their role, excelled in actively advocating for the student voice, and demonstrated forward-thinking while participating in decision making at UniSQ.

2024 Recipients:

• Md Jamil Istiaq (Winner)
• Tiarn Barton-Ilic (Highly Commended)
• Pranima Thapa (Highly Commended)

Sport enriches the student learning journey through activity and community both on and off the field. A commendable sense of fair play and commitment all aspects of sport, including play and support, helps to develop a well-rounded approach to other aspects of University life. This Award goes to students who have achieved a standard in their sport that is above average for student-athletes, who have excelled in the areas of sporting club/event administration and delivery, or have excelled in the areas of coaching, refereeing, and volunteering generally in their chosen sport.

2024 Recipients:

• Sienna Deurloo (Winner)
• Charlie Andersen (Highly Commended)
• Abby Marshall (Highly Commended)

UniSQ recognises the importance of student leadership development and empowers students to build their leadership skills and self-knowledge through participation in both paid and volunteer programs. By undertaking these programs, students not only develop personally and professionally, but have a positive impact on UniSQ students just like themselves. This Award goes to an iconnect Concierge, iconnect Supervisor, Student Ambassador, Peer-Assisted Study Session Leader, Residential Student Advisor, Student Success Assistant, or Leadership Excellence Academy participant who has demonstrated outstanding leadership and gone above and beyond the requirements of their paid or volunteer employment to enrich the UniSQ community.

2024 Recipients:

• Md Jamil Istiaq (Winner)
• Taylah Hoffman (Highly Commended)
• Tiarn Barton-Ilic (Highly Commended)
  
   

UniSQ is committed to champion innovative and world-changing ideas, and is proud to uplift the student community at the forefront. This Award goes to a student with a proven dedication to innovation and innovative practices in their curricular and extra-curricular activities, the community, employment, and research, making a positive and substantial impact within this area.

2024 Recipient:

• Ashley Maber (Winner)

UniSQ believes that every individual has a role to play in bringing the University values to life. Students lives out these values every day through the positive, supportive and meaningful relationships they create with their peers, staff, and the community. This Award goes to a student who has demonstrated an outstanding commitment to UniSQ’s values of Respect, Integrity, and Excellence in any and all undertakings, including: curricular and extra-curricular activities, the community, employment, and research.

2024 Recipient:

• Tiarn Barton-Ilic (Winner)
• Grace Reeves (Highly Commended)
• Mimi Maloney Nguyen (Highly Commended)

The UniSQ Graduate Excellence Award recognises well-rounded, career-ready students who have gone above and beyond their academic studies to demonstrate the six Graduate Skills through sustained effort. When undertaking the Award, students engage in a diverse range of extra and co-curricular activities that are assessed across three categories: professional development, extra-curricular achievement, and contribution to the community.  The Award also acknowledges the development of the skills, attributes, and personal qualities necessary for effective university study, success in the workplace, and good citizenship. By actively participating in this program, students can build their skillsets, expand their knowledge, meet new people, enhance career outcomes, and engage with the full UniSQ experience.

Recipients:

• Ramildo Etisson de Souza Passos
• Michelle Oldham
• Bonnii Heber
• Rachel Roberts
• Gemma Keogh
• Ashley Maber
• Tamyka Mallet

The Leadership Excellence Academy engages participants in leadership experiences and professional development, exploring self-awareness and facilitating personal growth. In partnership with Performance Potential, the Academy program includes seminars, skill workshops, on-going mentoring, presentations and participation in a service project. 

2024 Leadership Excellence Academy:

• Tapan Sheth
• Anne Logan
• Loni Arthur
• Bonnii Heber
• Gauri Samant
• Jacquelyn Barry
• Prajin Paul
• Joseph O'Connor
• Shivani Reddy
• Kristi Estes
• Md Jamil Istiaq
• Shaima Chowdhury Sharna
• Christine Monjal
• Scott Furlong
• Lowana Walker