ECU's Top 100 Students who were in attendance at the awards.
The University's most outstanding students were honoured at the 2025 Vice-Chancellor's Student Excellence Celebration — not only for their academic achievements, but also their leadership, creativity and dedication to making a difference within and beyond the ECU community.
Presiding over the awards, ECU Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Students, Equity and Indigenous), Professor Braden Hill, said he was immensely proud of the students' achievements and their positive impact across the ECU community.
"Over the year, we have welcomed new students to the ECU community, and we have cheered as many of you crossed the stage to graduate," Professor Hill said.
"I'm proud of the professionalism, integrity and commitment to personal excellence you demonstrate every day. You truly embody the spirit of ECU, and it is a privilege to celebrate with you."
The awards were announced by ECU's Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Education), Professor Rowena Harper.
The Vice-Chancellor's Student Awards recognise outstanding contributions in three categories: Contribution to University Life, Community Engagement, and Reconciliation.
Contribution to University Life Award
The Contribution to University Life Award recognises a student, or a student team, who has made an outstanding contribution to student life at ECU.
ECU Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Education), Professor Rowena Harper, Hapuarachchige Charith M. Mendis, Denise Roff, Zoe Hawksworth, Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Students, Equity and Indigenous), Professor Braden Hill.
Winner: Hapuarachchige Charith M. Mendis (Bachelor of Commerce student)
With the support of ECU, Charith made a special trip from ECU's Sri Lanka Campus to ECU Joondalup in to receive his award. He has made an exceptional and wide-reaching impact on the ECU community. Known to many as "the face of ECU Sri Lanka" – Charith's leadership, creativity and dedication have enriched student life and fostered a vibrant, inclusive culture on campus.
Charith has participated in over 40 initiatives, reaching more than 3,500 students through clubs, projects and voluntary roles. As Treasurer of the Student Ambassadors and Toastmasters, he strengthened financial transparency and supported more than 15 student-led programs. His leadership as men's swimming captain and band coordinator encouraged creativity and teamwork.
Charith also organised major cultural events such as Avurudu Gama '25, Luminar Night and Talentra '25, ECU's first student talent show, while promoting wellbeing, social responsibility, and community connection.
Letters of recognition presented for contribution to University Life:
- Pemo Chentsho
- RedRoom Student Club
- Hamed Kariman
Community Engagement Award
The Community Engagement Award recognises a student, or a student team, who has demonstrated outstanding engagement with external communities, and has contributed to the achievement of the University's strategic priorities through engagement activities.
Winner: Zoe Hawksworth (Bachelor of Music student)
Zoe was recognised for her extraordinary work with Ocean Heroes: Surfing the Spectrum, a voluntary program supporting neurodiverse children through surfing. Her work, undertaken entirely outside her studies, reflects selflessness, empathy and a deep commitment to social good.
Through her leadership, Zoe has created inclusive experiences that meet diverse needs and extend into regional communities, embodying ECU's spirit of community engagement.
Letters of recognition presented for Community Engagement:
- Zongyu Zhang
- Elissa Oakey
- Francesco Bettariga
- Chenuli Wickramasinghe
- Montana Depuy
Reconciliation Award
The Reconciliation Award recognises a student, or a student team, who has demonstrated outstanding contribution to develop an equitable community that values Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples and knowledge
Winner: Denise Roff (Bachelor of Laws student)
Denise, a proud Nyikina woman from the Kimberley and fourth-year law student, was recognised for her outstanding advocacy for Aboriginal communities and commitment to justice.
She has collaborated with organisations such as Walalakoo Aboriginal Corporation and Emama Nguda Aboriginal Corporation, supporting initiatives like Target 120 and the Yiriman Project to promote youth diversion and empowerment.
Denise's voluntary work spans native title matters, legal aid support and academic research — all guided by her lived experience and passion for community-led solutions. Her advocacy for early intervention, informed consent and equitable access to justice reflects ECU’s values of integrity, respect and empowerment. Denise is emblematic of ECU’s values as an advocate for women.
Letters of recognition presented for contribution to Reconciliation:
- Nathan Smith
- Mark John Garcia Castro
Inspiring student voices
The ceremony also featured inspiring speeches from two exceptional Top 100 students who shared their ECU journeys.
Eloise Duff, a second-year Biomedical Science student, spoke about her passion for discovery and the supportive learning environment that has shaped her success. She has distinguished herself through academic excellence and leadership, helping foster a collaborative learning community.
"If you have the privilege of choosing your career path, for some they must keep that career and their passion separate, but for others you must make that passion your career. I undoubtedly have found myself in the latter.
"You are not your achievements or your losses. You are your wonderful, unique self and having a safe, inclusive and supportive environment like ECU to explore that is such a privilege." Eloise Duff said.
Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Students, Equity and Indigenous), Professor Braden Hill, Maryam Vagh, Eloise Duff, ECU Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Education), Professor Rowena Harper.
Maryam Vagh, who is completing her Graduate Diploma in Secondary Teaching, shared her bold decision to leave a corporate finance career to pursue her dream of becoming a teacher. Her high achievement and humour make her a respected role model among her peers.
Students at the top of their game
Each year, ECU's Top 100 students are recognised for their outstanding academic performance based on their weighted average mark, and the number of units they have completed.
With more than 31,000 students enrolled at ECU, Professor Braden Hill congratulated the Top 100 students of 2025 on this significant accomplishment.
ECU Top 100 students of 2025
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- Amy Ahearn
- Isaac James Anfuso
- Luca Batella
- Glenn Michael Beall
- Liam Bennett
- Olivia Lisa Ashley Berkelaar
- Elliot James Betterton
- Michael Bilbe
- Lexie Rae Bowden
- Nathan Branch
- Emily Grace Bredemeyer
- Jasmin Burgess
- Nina Calogero
- Mark John Garcia Castro
- Marie Therese Corrigan
- Flavia Elena Craioveanu
- Isaac Neil Davies
- Justin De La Rue
- Michaela De Paolis
- Marc Delongte
- Hamish Dobbs
- Abbey Hannah Donald
- Tom Donaldson
- Eloise Tasmyn Duff
- Angela Christine Evans
- Georgia Farrell
- Jordan Farrow
- Beaudyn Faull
- Ryan Ace Firman
- Gigi Hendrik Franssen-Wilde
- Luca Sandor Frigyik
- Stewart William Gallagher
- Hayley Gardner
- Holly Jade Gaspar
- Austin George
- Otto Joseph Gibbs
- Connor Richard Goodlad
- Taylah Rauchelle Graham
- Ellie Grover
- Sophie Wan Ting Ha
- James Harding
- Anna Madeline Hardman
- Tiara Jane Harper
- Brodie Susan Hibberd
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- Mason Anthony Ingoe
- Brittany Isaia
- Daniel Thomas Jackson
- Heath Jeffrey
- Memmi Konior
- Adam Lacco
- Domenic Sam Lamattina
- Lauren Bianca Lane
- Nicole Lavender
- Songyi Lee
- Graham Lord
- Cameron John Mackinnon
- Sage Caillan Todman Matys
- Michelle Louise Maya
- Vinicius Medeiros De Almeida
- Ethan Graham Milner
- Luchintha Anjana Morawakage
- Lara Mary Morrow
- Brendon Barry Muller
- Sandra Mupombwa
- Richard Neave
- Benjamin James O'Reilly
- Tshering Pem
- Thomas Mitchell Piotrowski
- Melanie Erin Police
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- Naomi Radley
- Emma Marie Reid
- Jennifer Reid
- Kristijan Rezic
- Palak Rijal
- Mimmi Sandstroem
- Sarah Nicole Scafidas
- Natalie Nina Schewtschenko
- Tyler James Schwehr
- Smati Senille
- Isabell Seward
- Kathryn Ann Shortland-Jones
- Michael Steven Singer
- Isabella Rose Fisher Skuthorp
- Julie Slodowy
- Joseph Christopher Sullivan
- Julia Szymanski
- Henry Thai
- Sian Elizabeth Thomas
- Asha Suzanne Thomson
- Mei Xiao Bin Thomson
- Jamie Alexander Urwin Duarte
- Maryam Vagh
- Luke Vivarelli
- Jake Robert Whan
- Jessica Whittaker
- Bree Wilson
- Stanley Wen Yan Xiong
- Tracy Marie Zemunik
- Anahita Zoohori
