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UniSQ Student Awards

Student Awards recognise the outstanding extra-curricular achievement of our UniSQ students. We are proud to recognise current students who have shown outstanding achievement in the areas of leadership, community service, student clubs, sport and much more.

The 2024 Student Awards

Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander culture has a deep and rich history spanning thousands of years, and UniSQ is proud to support First Nations students through their University journey. This Award goes to an Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander student who has demonstrated outstanding involvement and commitment to the Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander community, making a positive and substantial impact with their undertakings.

Nomination criteria:

  • How have you (or the nominee) demonstrated outstanding involvement and commitment to the Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander community?
  • Demonstrate and provide examples of your (or the nominee’s) positive and substantial impact within the Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander community.

Study sits at the heart of University life, and UniSQ students have the opportunity to enrich their study journey with a wide range of extra-curricular activities. This Award goes to a student who has demonstrated a high level of academic success while actively engaging in a range of extra-curricular and co-curricular activities, including sports, leadership, arts, cultural endeavours, student clubs, and community service.

Nomination criteria:

  • You (or the nominee) must have a GPA of at least 5.0 (need help finding your GPA?).
  • Demonstrate how you (or the nominee) have participated in, contributed to, and achieved excellence in a range of areas. This may include activities such as sports, leadership, arts, cultural endeavours, student clubs, community service etc.
  • Demonstrate and provide examples of your continued academic success, discussing how you achieved this success while balancing your other commitments.

Clubs and Societies help students connect with the University community, learn new skills, develop lifelong friendships, and take part in a range of activities that matter to them. Recognising how important Clubs and Societies are to student life, this Award goes to a UniSQ affiliated club that has had a positive and substantial impact within the University, its community, and overall student life, and who also demonstrates a commitment to continuous improvement and the development of new initiatives.

Nomination criteria:

  • Demonstrate and provide examples of how this Club has had a positive and substantial impact within the University, its community, and overall student life.
  • How has this Club demonstrated a commitment to continuous improvement and the development of new initiatives?
  • If formed between formed between 2021-2023, demonstrate and provide examples of how this Club or Society has developed initiatives to support members and enrich their UniSQ student journey in new ways.

UniSQ students can put their leadership skills into real-life action through service, identifying issues that matter to them and taking the initiative to make a positive difference to their local communities. This Award goes to a student who has demonstrated active and enthusiastic participation in community service or volunteering initiatives, with an evidenced positive impact on the community in which they live.

Nomination criteria:

  • Demonstrate and provide examples of your (or the nominee's) service-based community contributions*.
  • Demonstrate and provide examples of your (or the nominee's) positive impact to the community in which you (or they) live.
  • Describe why this service and the impact you (or the nominee) made is important to you.

*Eligible contributions must not be part of the nominee's job description or receive monetary benefits.

UniSQ is proud to respect, value, and champion the rich variety of cultural identities, languages, and beliefs within the University. The diversity and multiculturalism that makes up the student cohort is a strength that lends itself to all aspects of a student’s journey, and this Award goes to a student who has demonstrated a commitment to diversity, equity, and inclusivity, with an outstanding contribution to supporting UniSQ’s international communities.

Nomination criteria:

  • How have you (or the nominee) contributed to and supported UniSQ international student communities? For example, through the ongoing commitment to, development, and creation of initiatives, programs, and processes etc.
  • Demonstrate and provide examples of your (or the nominee's) positive impact to the community:

UniSQ recognises the value of student partnership in creating a more inclusive, equitable and effective learning environment. Amplifying the student voice empowers students to take an active role in speaking up and shaping their education and the governance of the University, and students who engage in partnership roles represent the student voice by building and fostering collaborative relationships with staff, students, and stakeholders. These student representatives volunteer their time to actively contribute to their learning journey and improve the student experience for all of their peers.

This Award goes to a member of the Student Senate, Student Representative Committee (SRC), Academic and Governance Student Representatives (ASR), or a student Project Partner who has fully immersed themselves in their role, excelled in actively advocating for the student voice, and demonstrated forward-thinking while participating in decision making at UniSQ.

Nomination criteria:

  • You (or the nominee) must be one or more of the following: Student Senate member, Student Representative Committee member, Academic and Governance Student Representative, or Student Project Partner.
  • Demonstrate and provide examples of how you (or the nominee) have gone above and beyond to engage with the student community and advocate for the student voice through the role/s.
  • How have you (or the nominee) shown forward-thinking while participating in decision making at UniSQ through the role/s?
  • Demonstrate and provide examples of your (or the nominee's) achievements within the role/s.
  • Demonstrate and provide examples of your (or the nominee's) commitment to both personal and professional development within the role/s.

Sport enriches the student learning journey through activity and community both on and off the field. A commendable sense of fair play and commitment all aspects of sport, including play and support, helps to develop a well-rounded approach to other aspects of University life. This Award goes to students who have achieved a standard in their sport that is above average for student-athletes, who have excelled in the areas of sporting club/event administration and delivery, or have excelled in the areas of coaching, refereeing, and volunteering generally in their chosen sport.

Nomination criteria:

  • Demonstrate and provide examples of your (or the nominee's) sporting achievements, or excellence in sports administration, including coaching, refereeing, and volunteering.
  • Demonstrate and provide examples of how you (or the nominee) have exhibited fair play and good sportsmanship.
  • Demonstrate and provide examples of how you (or the nominee) have helped to develop a sporting club, and/or contributed to the University sporting community.

UniSQ recognises the importance of student leadership development and empowers students to build their leadership skills and self-knowledge through participation in both paid and volunteer programs. By undertaking these programs, students not only develop personally and professionally, but have a positive impact on UniSQ students just like themselves. This Award goes to an iconnect Concierge, iconnect Supervisor, Student Ambassador, Peer-Assisted Study Session Leader, Residential Student Advisor, Student Success Assistant, or Leadership Excellence Academy participant who has demonstrated outstanding leadership and gone above and beyond the requirements of their paid or volunteer employment to enrich the UniSQ community.

Nomination criteria:

  • You (or the nominee) must be one or more of the following: iconnect Concierge, iconnect Supervisor, Peer-Assisted Study Session Leader, Residential Student Advisor, Student Success Assistant, or Leadership Excellence Academy participant.
  • How have you (or the nominee) gone above and beyond the requirements of the role/s to enrich the UniSQ community?
  • Demonstrate and provide examples of your (or the nominee's) outstanding leadership and how they had a positive impact on their peers through the role/s.

UniSQ is committed to champion innovative and world-changing ideas, and is proud to uplift the student community at the forefront. This Award goes to a student with a proven dedication to innovation and innovative practices in their curricular and extra-curricular activities, the community, employment, and research, making a positive and substantial impact within this area.

Nomination criteria:

  • Discuss the area/s in which you (or the nominee) have a proven dedication to innovation and are facilitating and implementing innovative practices.
  • Demonstrate with examples how you (or the nominee) have made a positive and substantial impact through these practices.

UniSQ believes that every individual has a role to play in bringing the University values to life. Students lives out these values every day through the positive, supportive and meaningful relationships they create with their peers, staff, and the community. This Award goes to a student who has demonstrated an outstanding commitment to UniSQ’s values of Respect, Integrity, and Excellence in any and all undertakings, including: curricular and extra-curricular activities, the community, employment, and research.

Nomination criteria:

  • Demonstrate and provide examples of how you (or the nominee) have shown commitment to Respect, Integrity, and Excellence through curricular activities.
  • Demonstrate and provide examples of how you (or the nominee) have shown commitment to Respect, Integrity, and Excellence through extra-curricular activities.
  • In your own words, how do you (or the nominee) embody the University’s values in day-to-day life?

The UniSQ Graduate Excellence Award recognises well-rounded, career-ready students who have gone above and beyond their academic studies to demonstrate the six Graduate Skills through sustained effort. When undertaking the Award, students engage in a diverse range of extra and co-curricular activities that are assessed across three categories: professional development, extra-curricular achievement, and contribution to the community.  The Award also acknowledges the development of the skills, attributes, and personal qualities necessary for effective university study, success in the workplace, and good citizenship. By actively participating in this program, students can build their skillsets, expand their knowledge, meet new people, enhance career outcomes, and engage with the full UniSQ experience.

This Award cannot be nominated for. Find out more about achieving the Graduate Excellence Award.