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UNE sees first fruits of new award program

March 23, 2005

New England Award thumb.jpg
Nine students graduating from the University of New England this autumn had something special to celebrate: they were the first recipients of a new award for involvement in extra-curricular activities contributing to community and personal development.

The New England Award enables students to take advantage of the unique range of cultural, social, educational, political and sporting activities, and leadership opportunities, within the UNE and Armidale communities.

“These experiences complement the skills and knowledge developed through their studies,” said Robyn Muldoon, Coordinator of UNE’s Academic Skills Office, who initiated the award program. Ms Muldoon said the many activities the students had been involved in included membership of the UNE Council, the UNE Students’ Association, the UNE Law Students’ Society, Sport UNE management, the tUNE-in Peer Support Program and the Vice-Chancellor’s Leadership Program, as well as undertaking responsible roles within the residential colleges.

Students can accumulate points for their participation in these extra-curricular activities throughout their studies, aiming for the 1,000 points they need to win the award. While the award was introduced only last year, current students were able to collect points in retrospect. The recipients of the New England Award at the 2005 Autumn Graduation ceremonies were Nathan Clarke-Hong, Luke Doherty, Andy Heath, Sarah Jefford, Shelley Reid, Sheree Smith, Kate Turner, Faye Wheeler and Tania Willis.

UNE’s Vice-Chancellor, Professor Ingrid Moses, established the award (with a Vice-Chancellor’s Strategic Initiative Grant) and launched it early last year.

Professor Moses said she regarded the award-winners as “high-achieving, proactive, community-spirited citizens who have developed a broad range of personal and professional skills and attributes while studying at UNE”. She said students such as these would be of most interest to employers, who were looking for graduates with more than just outstanding academic results.

One of the recipients, Sheree Smith, who graduated with a Bachelor of Commerce degree, delivered the Vote of Thanks on behalf of all the graduands at the ceremony for Economics, Business and Law. In doing so she spoke of the New England Award as an example of UNE’s commitment to helping its students develop as “whole people”.

All the recipients agreed that, by enabling them to document their involvement in campus and community activities, the award had helped them to present a more complete picture of themselves to potential employers. “Employers are looking for life experience,” said another of the award winners, Faye Wheeler.

“With increasing numbers of students registered to complete the award over the next few years,” Ms Muldoon said, “it appears that the New England Award has quickly become a sought-after addition to students’ resumes.”


Media contact: Robyn Muldoon, Teaching and Learning Centre, UNE (02) 6773 2836 or Jim Scanlan, Public Relations, UNE (02) 6773 3049. Please contact Jim Scanlan for photographs.

The photograph displayed here shows the Vice-Chancellor of UNE, Professor Ingrid Moses (centre), with four of the New England Award winners: (from left) Andrew Heath, Sarah Jefford, Nathan Clarke-Hong and Sheree Smith. This and other Graduation photographs are available from Jim Scanlan on (02) 6773 3049.


Posted by Jim Scanlan at March 23, 2005 03:19 PM