A Year in Review..

With graduation upon us, and the year quickly coming to a close, we want to take a moment to reflect on another successful year at Griffith University. This year has seen Griffith staff and students excel on a local, national and international level and in a range of fields. Whilst, there have been many achievements worth mentioning, here are just a few of the great stories from 2016 you might have missed.

1. Griffith Graduate lands UN leadership role

Our students at Griffith are truly remarkable. This year Griffith Alumni, Chris Eigeland, was selected as Australia’s Youth Representative to the United Nations for 2016. Find out how Chris used his double degree to pursue his “passions for human rights, education and the environment” here.

2. More Griffith students take up Commonwealth Game internships

Griffith University’s partnership with the Gold Coast 2018 Commonwealth Games has been a unique opportunity for many Griffith students. With 250 internships available in a range of areas, Griffith students gain invaluable experience and have the opportunity to kick-start their careers. Read more about the Commonwealth Games internships here.

3. Debut Single for young cancer survivor

At only 19 years of age upcoming artist Chelsea Stutchbury has conquered cancer and launched her music career by releasing her debut single, Vincristine. Along the journey Chelsea has also had the opportunity to meet Taylor Swift, Katy Perry and Delta Goodrum. Read more about Chelsea’s unbelievable journey here.

4.Quadriplegia is no barrier to a medical career

Dinesh Palipana was a focused and enthusiastic medicine student at Griffith University when he was involved in a road traffic accident in 2010. The extent of Dinish’s injuries resulted in him becoming a quadriplegic. With the support of the School of Medicine, Dinesh is determined to continue to pursue a career in medicine and this week graduates from Griffith with his degree. Read more about Dinish’s incredible story here.

5. Opera graduate takes on the world stage

At the Queensland Conservatorium Griffith University there is no shortage of musical talent, and this talent has not gone unnoticed. A number of students, including opera singers Kiandra Howard and Kang Wang have been selected from hundreds of applications worldwide to take part in programs in London and New York. For more on the Queensland Conservatorium Griffith University’s rising stars check out this article.

6. Adelaide United star strikes a balance

Adelaide United striker and Griffith University student Bruce Djite has had a huge amount of success on and off the field. Read how he manages to juggle his sporting career, his role at accounting firm PKF Kennedy and his studies in a Bachelor of Business at Griffith Business School here.

7. Kate Seib wins Prestigious ASM Frank Fenner Award

Griffith University is very proud of their dedicated researchers. Dr Kate Seib, from the Institute for Glycomics, has won this year’s Australian Society for Microbiology (ASM) Frank Fenner Award. Read more about Dr Kate Seib’s contributions to microbiology research in Australia and receiving this prestigious award here.

8. Griffith Students shine at 2016 Rio Olympic Games

There was an abundance of excitement this year in the lead up and during the 2016 Rio Olympics. With 24 current and past Griffith students competing, Griffith had the largest contingent of students and Alumni of any Australian university. Eleven medals were awarded to Griffith athletes. Congratulations to Emma McKeon receiving the most medals with one gold, two silver and a bronze. We couldn’t be more proud of our athletes and their achievements. Read more about our students performing on the world stage in Rio here.

9. Griffith Para-Olympians head home with three medals

Griffith University was also well represented at the Rio Paralympics, with seven students competing and three medals resulting. Current Psychology student David Edwards received a bronze in the men’s tandem road time trial, whilst Griffith Alumni Katie Kelly won gold in the triathlon and Carlee Beattie received a bronze in the high jump. Read more about Griffith athletes and their success at the Rio Paralympics here.

10. Internship takes Sebastian to Africa to fight poaching

Griffith University mechanical engineering graduate Sebastian Speck’s internship with Scout Aerial Media and Surveying has sent his career soaring after he designed a catapult launcher for an Antipoaching Scout (APS) which will be used to detect illegal hunting in Africa. Read more about Sebastian’s internship and his work here.

 

That’s a wrap! Enjoy the summer break and we will see you back in Trimester One 2017.

Written by Courtney Quast, Bachelor of Laws/Bachelor of Business student.