2007 winners
Michelle Mills
2007 Student Leader of the Year
Michelle is currently completing a Bachelor of Journalism degree in the Creative Industries Faculty. Michelle has represented QUT at a number of student leadership events including the 2007 Australia's Brightest Young Minds Summit, the Asia-Pacific Model United Nations Conference, and the Education Without Borders Conference, in the United Arab Emirates. With a keen interest in inter-cultural relations, Michelle was selected as one of only 16 students worldwide to be part of the Global Organising Committee for the Education Without Borders Conference, a significant international event which seeks to create cross-cultural networks in order to generate innovative solutions to global challenges. As part of this event she had the role of Media Manager, which included initiating and leading an international collaborative project to produce a magazine on the event, with journalism students from QUT, Papua New Guinea and the United Arab Emirates.
Michelle's community service activities include raising funds for a youth education program in Sierra Leone, West Africa, and sourcing funding for Australian and Papua New Guinean students to attend an international conference. With her sights set on a career in journalism, Michelle has successfully applied to undertake an internship with Channel 7 in August this year; in addition Michelle has been selected as a newsreader on the 'QUT News' TV program on Briz 31. Michelle has displayed academic excellence in her tertiary studies with a course GPA of 6.077, gaining her admission into the Golden Key International Honour Society.
Michael D'Onofrio
2007 Student Leadership Excellence Award Winner
Michael D'OnforioMichael is completing a Bachelor of Engineering in Civil and Construction Engineering, and is an active member of QUT Motorsport, and the QUT Chapter of Engineers Without Borders. Michael recently represented QUT at 'Enterprisers 2007', a residential entrepreneurship program run by the University of Cambridge and the Massachusetts Institute of Technology. Michael's community service activities include volunteering with Lifeline, Bluecare, and Engineers Without Borders. He is currently gaining professional experiencing while working part-time for Baulderstone Hornibrook. Michael's academic achievements have been recognised with entry into the Dean's Scholars Program, a Dean's Bursary for High Achievement, a Baulderstone Hornibrook Scholarship, and a Power Engineering Bursary.
Sandi Dawson
2007 Student Leadership Excellence Award Winner
Sandi is currently completing a Bachelor of Health Science in Nutrition and Dietetics, and a Bachelor of Applied Science in Human Movement Studies double degree. Sandi has been actively involved in the QUT community as a University Tutor, Research Assistant, and Peer Mentor to new university students. Sandi is a volunteer with the Australian Youth Development Association and in 2005 she travelled to Africa with this group to partake in voluntary activities at the Nelson Mandela Primary School. Sandi has completed work experience as a Cardiac Scientist at the Royal Brisbane and Women's Hospital, and as a Community Nutritionist through Queensland Health. In May of this year Sandi travelled to Germany to conduct research on Human Motor Control as part of an ARC International Linkage Grant. With a current GPA of 6.6 Sandi has regularly featured on the Dean's Commendation List.
Shane Degen
2007 Student Leadership Excellence Award Winner
Shane is currently completing a Bachelor of Engineering in Aerospace Avionics. Shane is the Founding Project Manager of QUT's Search and Rescue Uninhabited Aerial Vehicle (UAV) Team, and has played a key role in getting the team ready for an international aerospace competition, 'The UAV Outback Challenge', being held in September. Shane is a member of numerous professional and student organisations including Engineers Australia, the Royal Aeronautical Society, and the Australian Students Space Association. Shane has undertaken work experience at Boeing and is now employed by the same company as an Engineer. With an excellent academic record, Shane has featured on the Dean's List of Students with Excellent Academic Performance, and is a recipient of a Royal Aeronautical Society's Centennial Scholarship.
Samantha Laidlaw Thompson
2007 Student Leadership Excellence Award Winner
Samantha is completing a Bachelor of Creative Industries. Samantha's contribution to the QUT community encompasses a range of activities including her membership of the QUT United Nations Student Association, her role as a Student Ambassador since 2005, and her involvement in organising a range of social events. Samantha has volunteered her time to a number of cultural events including the Brisbane Festival, the Out of The Box Festival. She is also a registered volunteer with the La Boite Theatre. Samantha is currently undertaking work experience with Red Chair Events Agency and Vandel Media in the areas of event development, communication and marketing. She is also employed as a Web Content Officer in QUT's Faculty of Health.
Yen Ngo
2007 Student Leadership Excellence Award Winner
Yen NgoYen is studying a Bachelor of Business and Bachelor of Information Technology dual degree. Yen has undertaken a range of student leadership roles while at QUT, including President of the Information Technology Student Association (ITSA), and the IT Director of the QUT Accounting Students Association (QUTASA). As a Senior Student Ambassador, Yen has represented QUT at a number of promotional events including careers fairs and tertiary expos. Yen has also undertaken a number of roles to assist her fellow students which include peer student mentor, IT Duty Tutor, and Peer Assisted Study Scheme leader. Yen has also completed the majority of modules through the QUT Business Advantage Program and is a participant in the QUT Career Mentor Scheme.
Rebecca Shaw
2007 Student Leadership Excellence Award Winner
Rebecca is currently completing a Bachelor of Applied Science in Human Movement Studies and Bachelor of Education double degree. Rebecca has been an active member of the QUT community as a member of the Movers and Educators social group for Human Movements and Physical Education Students. She has also been a leader at student orientation camps for new Human Movements students. Rebecca volunteers her time to the HAND Day Respite Centre which provides a range of support, skill development, and social activities for intellectually impaired young adults. Rebecca's professional development activities include participation in the QUT Career Mentor Scheme, and a planned fourth year practicum in Roma, where she is looking forward to the experience of working in a rural setting.
James Tilbury
2007 Student Leadership Excellence Award Winner
James is completing a Bachelor of Engineering in Civil Engineering. James is the President and a founding member of the 'Engineers Without Borders' QUT chapter, an Australian organisation which works to improve the quality of life of disadvantaged communities through education and sustainable engineering projects. James has contributed to the QUT community by representing his fellow students as member of his Faculty's Academic Board and Teaching and Learning Committees. James has undertaken a range of work experience including the Thiess Vacation Work Program. James is the recipient of a Thiess Smart State Scholarship and an Australian Defence Force Academy Education Award. He is also part of the Dean's Scholars Program.
Ashlea White
2007 Student Leadership Excellence Award Winner
Ashlea is currently completing a Bachelor of Applied Science in Medical Radiation Technology. Ashlea is a Student Ambassador and has represented QUT and her Faculty at a range school visits, rural showcases and University events. With a keen interest in rural health, Ashlea is a member of Southern Queensland???s Rural Health Club 'TROHPIQ' and has actively sought to raise the profile of this group amongst her fellow students. Ashlea is passionate about youth engagement and has attended a range of events which support youth participation such as the Queensland Youth Council, the YMCA Queensland Youth Parliament, and the United Nations International Conference on Engaging Communities. Ashlea's community service activities have been recognised with numerous awards, including being named Caboolture Shire's Young Citizen of the Year, the Zonta Young Woman of the Year, as well as receiving the inaugural Charlie Bell Scholarship for leadership.
Helena Wu
2007 Student Leadership Excellence Award Winner
Helena is currently completing a Bachelor of Engineering in Mechanical Engineering. Helena has been actively involved in the QUT community as a member of the QUT Motorsport Team, the Society of Petroleum Engineers, Engineers Without Borders, and the Golden Key International Honour Society. Helena is also a Student Ambassador, a Peer Advisor in Academic Learning, and Vice-President of the Dean's Scholars Alumni Committee. Helena's professional development activities include completing Anglo Coal's Vacation Employment Program, and working part-time at Santos Ltd in the Coal Seam Gas Assets Team. With an impressive GPA of 6.9 Helena is part of the Dean's Scholar's Program and has received a Golden Key Scholarship.
