ECU student awards winners with the Vice-Chancellor.
Following a clean sweep of High Distinctions, Bachelor of Computer Science graduate Poojan Sharma was recognised for the third year in a row as one of Edith Cowan University's (ECU) Top 100 students.
To top that, Poojan was presented with the Vice-Chancellor’s Award for Contribution to University Life for 2022.
The annual awards also celebrate the Top 100 students based on their weighted average mark and number of completed units.
Excellence is an attitude
You'd think being a Top 100 student for the entirety of your degree would make anyone feel deserving of accolades – but Poojan accepted her award with the utmost humility.
"It's unbelievable. I can't fathom that I won it!
"I wasn't expecting it so when my named was called I was shaking. There're so many deserving students it's really hard to pick one, so I was grateful to just be nominated.'
Getting involved key to success
The recent Computer Science graduate said of all her achievements she was most proud of the journey.
"Initially, as an international student from Bhutan, I didn't know anyone when I arrived in Australia," Poojan said.
Poojan chose to get involved and contribute to the ECU community to grow her support network and make new friends.
"As soon as I started volunteering everything became more fun," she said.
"The more I did, the more motivated I was to branch out in different areas.
"The whole journey of being at ECU is the most precious experience. One connection led me to the next thing – it’s the journey that I value so much."
Lessons for life
Poojan said her key takeaway from her ECU student experience was the importance of relationships.
"People matter. That's what I'd say is the biggest learning I'll take with me from my student experience into my career," she said.
"It can be really hard to put yourself out there if you don't know anyone – or arrive in Australia two weeks late for start of semester like I did. So I decided to sign up for the Peer Assisted Study Sessions (PASS) program and met someone who was a great support."
PASS is a free academic support program offered to ECU students. The program provides all students with a friendly, focused and active learning environment where you work together to better understand unit content.
"Knowing that one connection geared me towards people who were very helpful and supportive," Poojan said.
"When you know people – you discover where to go and what to do. They're the ones that influence the good in you and empower you to believe in what you can do to make a difference for others.
"I've learnt that the most important thing is people and relationships – I really cherish them."
Advice for fellow students
Poojan shared the following advice for students:
"Take any opportunity that is given to you. My first step was taking part in ECU's PASS program. I’m a huge advocate for it," she said.
"If ECU suggests you take part in programs on offer – do it as soon as possible! You will not regret it.
"It will also help you find experienced mentors who will help you find your way."
Since graduating this year, Poojan secured permanent employment with global technology giant IBM as a Graduate Application Developer after being directly approached following a discussion with IBM at ECU's School of Science Career Fair.
All award winners at the event included:
Vice-Chancellor's Student Award for Engagement
Hoang Minh Pham, Master of Cyber Security, School of Science
Minh has made a strong, tangible impact on the wider community and volunteers on several agri-tech projects with the Rylington Park Institute for Agricultural Training and Research in Boyup Brook. He programmed and developed weather instrumentation, allowing climate and weather statistics to be distributed across several kilometres to central farm buildings. Minh created the Rylington Park dashboard, allowing farmers to access climate and weather information in real-time. An active member of the PECAN Cyber Challenge, Minh also mentors children with Autism Spectrum Disorder at Autism Academy Coderdojo.
Vice-Chancellor's Award for Contribution to University Life
Poojan Sharma, Bachelor of Computer Science, School of Science
During her time at ECU, Poojan was president of the Computing and Security Student Association (CASSA) and a PASS Leader. Poojan rejuvenated CASSA bringing greater gender equity and awareness to the group and hosted large events in collaboration with the ECU Guild. Poojan reintroduced 'study Fridays' as an initiative to have students come to university and study together. The communication channel she created with more than 500 students and alumni provided a platform for interaction across the entire computing and security cohort at ECU. Poojan was also invited to be Student Representative for the School of Science and the IT Computing Consultative Course Committee.
Special Commendation
Jacleen Ray, School of Arts and Humanities
A committee member of several student clubs within the Student Guild. Jacleen is the current president of Mature Age Student Network (MASN), Vice-President of Ethnocultural Collective, Co-President of Wellbeing Collective, Cross Campus Coordinator of Queer Collective and Co-President of Disability Collective.
Vice-Chancellor's Award for Reconciliation
Janelle Mort, Doctor of Philosophy, School of Arts and Humanities
In her PhD project, Janelle investigates ways to improve service provision for remote Aboriginal people suffering intergenerational trauma with Elders, Aboriginal community members, and community services personnel. Furthermore, Janelle runs a private consulting business upskilling staff, writing grants, and facilitating professional development for multiple Aboriginal businesses. She is also involved in research project developing a measure of wellbeing among Indigenous Australian youth with the University of Queensland. Janelle invests much of her personal time volunteering in community-driven initiatives for Aboriginal rights.
Brenton Rossow, Doctor of Philosophy, School of Arts and Humanities
As a tutor and mentor for Kurongkurl Katitjin, Brenton has made a positive impact to student learning. Brenton has made a significant contribution to local storytelling initiatives through filmmaking. This year, he directed and co-produced Lindsay’s Story, a short film about Nyoongar Elder Lindsay Calyun recalling his childhood memories of growing up in East Perth. Lindsay’s Story contributes to Reconciliation by documenting the trauma of Stolen Generations survivors.
Extraordinary students
ECU Vice-Chancellor Professor Steve Chapman CBE presented the awards on Tuesday, 8 November at the Joondalup Campus.
"I am delighted to acknowledge our Top 100 students, awards nominees and winners," Professor Chapman said.
"It may seem that 100 students is quite a lot, but when you think ECU has well over 30,00 students – to be in the Top 100 – that is a pretty cool achievement. You should all feel extremely proud."
Top 100 students of 2022
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- Topaz Aral
- Andrew Austin
- Hugh Edward Joseph Barrington
- Kristin Barwick
- Glenn Michael Beall
- David Owen Bell
- Addyson Jane Buck
- Melinda Ann Burke
- Lisa Burton
- Michael Ceruti
- Dana Chatman
- Carlos Chua-Lao
- Jenni May Cooling
- Anne-Sophie Couture
- Matthew Dall
- Sarah Kate Dansie
- Anastasia Joy Davy
- Thomas Davy
- Michaela De Paolis
- Tu Gia Huy Diep
- Ryan Lindsay Dorrington
- Riley Edwards
- Bree Benton Elliott
- Jack Henry Ellis
- Joseph Zhen-Ying Eng
- Angela Christine Evans
- Zannatul Ferdous
- Genevieve Olivia Franulovich
- Alissa Veronica Friese
- Grant Fryer
- Sheldon Ryan Gill
- Declan Roy Gray
- Emily Grieve
- David Barry Gush
- Ksenia Haangala
- Christopher Halfyard
- Richard Hall
- Christopher Hallett
- Colin Herbert
- Vincent Charlie Holman
- Taegan Howells
- Sam Hugo
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- Judith Anne Iddison
- Heath Jeffrey
- Thor-Robert Jelstad
- Liam Jennings
- Hannah Maree Johnston
- Nelson Jones
- Albertus Marthinus Jordaan
- Matthias Kaeser
- Mathew Kumar Karunaratne
- Christina Klomp
- Adam Lacco
- Winiata Lambert
- Nicole Lavender
- Ethan Thomas John Lee-Visser
- Mark Leung
- Graham Lord
- Cameron John Mackinnon
- Samantha Jane Mckenzie
- Paul Andrew Mclaughlin
- Catherine Alice Middleton
- Bronwyn Moloney
- Jennifer Muk
- Benjamin Mullin
- Sugam Neupane
- Alison Ngaronga
- Andrew Nicholls
- Leanne Marie Oates
- Alles Sandro Oktavio
- Jiwon Park
- Craig Alan Phillips
- Kia Louise Plumridge
- Brooke Nicole Power
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- Matvey Raevskiy
- Sam Reilly
- Mikayla Grace Richards
- Misha Richardson
- Renae Ritson
- Sarah Robinson
- Emma Ryan
- Brett Charles Ryder
- Mimmi Sandstroem
- Shehan Sangeeth Seneviratne
- Elizabeth Jane Charlotte Serventy
- Khurram Shahzad
- Cameron Silvia
- Barry Smart
- Matthew Cameron Smith
- Michael John Smith
- Johan Thinuka Soysa
- Hannah Th'ng
- Edwin David Thompson
- Stacie Maree Toovey
- Nicholas Trease
- Nikki Renae Trigg
- Norman Yiu Sing Tsang
- Alvaro Felipe Claudio Valdes Salazar
- Xander Nicolaas Van Rensburg
- Jonathon Daniel Wilson
