JCU awards recognise Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander students

Four Cairns students have been recognised for their outstanding achievements during James Cook University’s Indigenous Student Awards ceremony. LIST OF WINNERS

STUDENT EXCELLENCE: James Cook University Nguma-bada Spirit Award recipient, Cairns campus student Roderick Mabo (right) with Indigenous Education Research Centre Student Support Adviser Eddie Savage.

FOUR Cairns students were in a group of 26 recipients when James Cook University recognised the outstanding academic and personal achievements of their Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander students at the fifth annual Indigenous Student Awards ceremony on Thursday night.

At the ceremony in Townsville, the students (18 from Townsville Bebegu Yumba Campus, four from Cairns Nguma-bada campus, one from the Mount Isa Murtupuni campus and three studying externally), were honoured for tertiary study excellence.

JCU Pro Vice Chancellor of indigenous education and strategy, Professor Martin Nakata, said the calibre of award winners is very high,

“The awards represent more than just an individual’s achievement, they also serve as a reminder of the journey they’ve been on to reach such a high level of success”, he said.

Students were also recognised by the Murtupuni Centre for Rural and Remote Health, CSIRO STEM, the Diploma of Higher Education course, and “Spirit” awards for the Nguma-bada (Smithfield) and Bebegu Yumba (Douglas) campuses.

JCU Nguma-bada Spirit Award recipient, Roderick Mabo (right) with Indigenous Education Research Centre Student Support Advisor Eddie Savage.

Cairns resident and Nguma-bada Spirit Award recipient, Roderick Mabo, said he “was over the moon.”

Mr Mabo, 28, is studying a Bachelor of Information and Technology and said ”my hard work is paying off”,

“I want to work in cyber security and I am looking forward to my internship at KPMG over the summer,” he said.

Award recipients

Education: Peter Prince, Shae-Kia Carroll

Arts, Social Sciences and Social Work: Brodie Kuhn, Jade Croft

Law & Governance: Razmie-Jane Collyer, Matthew Bonato

Business & Commerce: Charlie Dooley

Engineering: Kyle McDonald

Information Technology: Mitchell Marks, Aubiene Thompson

Science: Chantelle Blackwell

Diploma of Higher Education: Kane Jenner, Kelly Barrett

Allied Health: Mani Gregson, Joanne Clarke

Nursing and Midwifery: Trent Lane, Fenella Hartley

Medicine, Dentistry and Pharmacy: Sarah Barton, Isaac Lange

Veterinary and Medical Sciences: Ashleigh Hazle

Murtupuni Centre for Rural and Remote Health Jenna Grieve,

CSIRO STEM Awards: Jennifer Gulson, Thomas Wallis, Tristan Gibbs

Nguma-bada Spirit Award: Roderick Mabo

Bebegu Yumba Spirit Award: Cody Stitt.

Originally published as JCU awards recognise Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander students