On Wednesday 1 May 2024, the School of Computing, Engineering and Mathematical Sciences hosted its annual Student Prizes Ceremony.
More than 80 people including donors, students, staff and guests were in attendance to announce 31 prizes, recognising the outstanding academic achievements of students. Seven of these prizes were recently awarded as part of the Prizes Ceremony at La Trobe’s Bendigo campus on 16 April 2024.
Students received awards for all disciplines in the School, ranging from cybersecurity and artificial intelligence, to civil engineering, construction and engineering management, data science, mathematics and physics.
Dean, Professor Wenny Rahayu, commended the prize winners for their achievements and the support of prize donors.
“We teach and work in disciplines that are at the forefront of tomorrow’s innovations,” she said.
“Our students will contribute to future solutions across a wide range of advanced technology and manufacturing industries.”
“They will carry forward La Trobe’s commitment to creating an impact for the community and cultivating new ideas in their respective careers, addressing the needs of our modern industries and societies.”
“We congratulate them on their achievements.”
Department of Computer Science and Information Technology prizes
Australian Computer Society (Victorian Branch) Award for Bachelor of Computer Science: Thanh Nhan Nguyen
Awarded to the top final year student in the Bachelor of Computer Science.
Australian Computer Society (Victorian Branch) Award for Bachelor of Cybersecurity: Amy Stirling (pictured above with Associate Professor Leanne Ngo)
Awarded to the top final year student in the Bachelor of Cybersecurity.
Australian Computer Society (Victorian Branch) Award for Bachelor of Information Technology (Melbourne): Stephanie Ceola
Awarded to the top final year student in the Bachelor of Information Technology (Melbourne).
Australian Computer Society (Victorian Branch) Award in Bachelor of Cybersecurity/Bachelor of Commerce (Melbourne): Brianna Prest
Awarded to the top final year student in the Bachelor of Cybersecurity/Bachelor of Commerce (Melbourne).
Australian Computer Society (Victorian Branch) Award in Bachelor of Cybersecurity/Bachelor of Criminology (Melbourne): Amberlynn Angela Menezes
Awarded to the top final year student in the Bachelor of Cybersecurity/Bachelor of Criminology (Melbourne).
Australian Computer Society (Victorian Branch) Award in Bachelor of Cybersecurity/Bachelor of Psychological Science (Melbourne): Jack Desneves
Awarded to the top final year student in the Bachelor of Cybersecurity/Bachelor of Psychological Science (Melbourne).
Australian Computer Society (Victorian Branch) Award in Bachelor of Information Technology (Regional): Robert James Delmenico
Awarded to the top final year student in the Bachelor of Information Technology (Regional)
Master of Cybersecurity (Computer Science): Himanshu Devraj Tigaiya
Awarded to the top student in the Master of Cybersecurity (Computer Science) course.
Master of Information Technology: Joseph Anuja Harith De Silva Goonetilleke
Awarded to the top student in the Master of Information Technology course.
Master of Artificial Intelligence: Kamyar Karimi
Awarded to the top student in the Master of Artificial Intelligence course.
Master of Information and Communication Technology: Sabrina Shahi
Awarded to the top student in the Master of Information and Communication Technology course.
Department of Engineering prizes
Tad Szental Prize in Engineering (Undergraduate): Jiaquan Zhong
Established by the Szental family in honour of Mr Tad Szental (1911-1975), an engineer and inventor who founded the electronics firm Elmaco Industries. The family established the position of Chair in the Department of Engineering at La Trobe which was filled by two of our professors.
Awarded to the top student in the Bachelor of Engineering course.
Tad Szental Prize in Engineering (Postgraduate): Manveer Kaur
Awarded to the top student in the Master of Engineering course.
SK Punyadasa Award: Ramin Rahimi
Established in memory of Mr. SK Punyadasa (the donor’s father), a Civil Engineer in the water industry, in Sri Lanka and globally.
Awarded to the most outstanding master’s student receiving the highest result at the completion of a Master of Civil Engineering degree.
CMP Gems in STEM Award: Senara Dinithi Lokusuriyage
Donated by Mr Soyun Punyadasa, Director and Principal Engineer, CMP Consulting Group Pty Ltd.
Awarded to the most outstanding female student upon completion of a Bachelor of Civil Engineering degree.
Greg Chalmers Award: Darcy Patrick Carroll
Donated and established in honour of Mr Greg Chalmers, Director and Principal Engineer who works with the donor, Mr Soyun Punyadasa at CMP Consulting Group Pty. Ltd.
Awarded to the most outstanding undergraduate student upon completion of a Bachelor of Civil Engineering degree.
Matthew O’Neill Prize in WIL: Tran Nhat Huy Nguyen
Established in memory of Mathew O’Neill, a former student, and staff member, who was a pioneering student in the Work Integrated Learning (WIL) program.
Awarded to the student who received the highest mark in Work Integrated Learning as determined by the school.
Top student in the Bachelor of Engineering Honours (Industrial): Caitlin Amelia Buchan
Awarded to the top student the Bachelor of Engineering Honours (Industrial) course.
Top student in the Bachelor of Civil Engineering (Honours): Darcy Patrick Carroll
Awarded to the top student in the Bachelor of Civil Engineering (Honours) course.
Top student in the Master of Engineering (Manufacturing): Jeff Alan Jacob
Awarded to the top student in the Master of Engineering (Manufacturing) course.
Top student in the Master of Engineering (Electronics): Himangini Sharma
Awarded to the top student in the Master of Engineering (Electronics) course.
Top student in the Master of Engineering (Civil): Ramin Rahimi
Awarded to the top student in the Master of Engineering (Civil) course.
Top student in the Master of Engineering (Telecommunications and Networking): Manveer Kaur
Awarded to the top student in the Master of Engineering (Telecommunications and Networking) course.
Top student in the Master of Construction and Engineering Management: Arshiya Mohammed
Awarded to the top student in the Master of Construction and Engineering Management course.
Department of Mathematical and Physical Sciences prizes
Professor Ed Smith Travel Award: Nikita Shulga
Established by the Smith family to honour the memory of Emeritus Professor Edgar Smith (1944-2009). Professor Smith was appointed to the Chair of Applied Mathematics at La Trobe University in 1986, and during his career with La Trobe he served as Head of the Department as well as the Dean of the Faculty of Science, Technology & Engineering. He was also Pro Vice-Chancellor IT from 1995-2005.
Awarded annually to a full-time PhD student of outstanding merit from the disciplines of Mathematics and Statistics, to allow the recipient to undertake an extended overseas visit for study and research purposes.
Professor Christie Eliezer Prize in Mathematics: Yuzhuo Fan
Established by the Eliezer family in memory of Emeritus Professor Christie Eliezer AM (1918-2001), who was the Foundation Professor of Applied Mathematics at La Trobe University in 1968-1983. During his career at La Trobe, he served as the Faculty Dean of Physical Sciences and on occasion Acting Vice Chancellor.
Awarded to the top student in the mathematics major in the Bachelor of Science.
The Department of Mathematical and Physical Sciences Honours Prize: Adam Bilchouris
Awarded to the student with the most outstanding Honours Thesis.
The Department of Mathematical and Physical Sciences Undergraduate Prize in Data Science: Krishna Moorthy Suppiah
Awarded to the top student in the Bachelor of Science, with a Data Science Major.
The Department of Mathematical and Physical Sciences Undergraduate Prize in Mathematics: Yuzhuo Fan
Awarded to the top student in the Bachelor of Science, with a Mathematics Major.
The Department of Mathematical and Physical Sciences Undergraduate Prize in Physics: Lauren White
Awarded to the top student in the Bachelor of Science, with a Physics Major.
The Department of Mathematical and Physical Sciences Undergraduate Prize in Statistics: Krishna Moorthy Suppiah
Awarded to the top student in the Bachelor of Science, with a Statistics Major.
