From educating people in developing countries about health issues, to mentoring his peers at QUT, Jeremy Baldwin's active participation in his uni and the wider world has earned him the prestigious award of 2011 Student Leader of the Year.
Chosen from an impressive pool of faculty award winners, Mr Baldwin's efforts have been recognised in a ceremony at QUT.
Mr Baldwin completed a dual degree in Bachelor of Applied Science and Bachelor of Business in 2010 with a GPA of 6.188. This year he commenced a Bachelor of Applied Science (Honours) in QUT's cancer research program.
Mr Baldwin's interest in science, mixed with his business nous, has led him into some very interesting projects throughout his years at university.
During 2010 Mr Baldwin received a QUT International Engagement grant, to complete a short-term research project in Ecuador. He worked alongside the Tropical Disease Institute (TDI) and the Centre for Infectious Disease Research (CIDR) to track Chagas disease, caused by a deadly blood-borne parasite that is endemic to the poor rural regions of South America.
"The primary role of our research group was to test for Chagas disease in local communities in Southern Ecuador and to get those individuals affected by the disease the help they need," Mr Baldwin said.
Mr Baldwin helped set up a community education program in local schools on disease awareness and prevention. Innovative teaching methods, such as story books, plays and sing-alongs were employed in order to teach the children about the disease.
His knowledge of life in remote parts of South America was useful when he entered the inaugural CPA Big Break Project at the end of last year. The project required entrants to propose ideas for the expansion of the not-for-profit organisation 'Room to Read' into the developing South American nation of Honduras.
Mr Baldwin drew on his experience in Ecuador to help develop a strategy to tackle childhood illiteracy at an individual, community and industry level. The proposal went on to win both the state and national rounds of the competition. As a result the university received $50,000 in prize money, which has since been used to establish a scholarship.
Several of the concepts and strategies Mr Baldwin and various other contestants developed have been sent to Room to Read's head office in order to assist with real-life market entry into Honduras.
At university, Mr Baldwin has held many leadership roles, including several positions on the faculty academic board, student staff-liaison committee and student advisory board. However none of these roles was more rewarding than volunteering for the Faculty of Science and Technology's peer mentor program.
"I am very passionate about the peer mentor program, because when I came to uni I made every mistake a first year could make. If there was someone there to show me the ropes, I would have been able to save myself a lot a heartache," Mr Baldwin said.
"It feels good to have students come to you for help, and share all the tricks you pick up over the years."
The Student Leadership Awards, an initiative of QUT Alumni, aims to acknowledge QUT students for their contributions to the University and the wider community. For more information about the awards and individual faculty winners for 2011, go to alumni.qut.edu.au/awards/slawards
Media contact: Michaela Ryan, QUT media officer, 07 3138 4494 or michaela.ryan@qut.edu.au
