Celebrating in style: DRS Student Experience Awards 2022

Our Waurn Ponds campus was abuzz with action on the night of the annual Student Experience Awards, with guests arriving by limousine, chartered bus, intercampus shuttle, by foot and even one of the new campus e-bikes.

All guests had the chance to walk the red carpet for this special event, with student leaders and award winners being joined by DRS staff and a number of key representatives from the wider University including DRS Board members Kean Selway (Executive Vice-President, Futures) and Kerrie Parker (Executive Vice-President, Resources).

After a virtual version last year, we were delighted to return to an in-person event for this important celebration of the outstanding efforts of students across our four campuses, highlighting those who have achieved great academic success and those who have gone above and beyond to contribute to their residential communities.

In a year when DRS has seen a strong return to on-campus vibrancy and in-person engagement, it was fitting to hold this important event in the Waurn Ponds residences Town Hall, which has been an invaluable addition to the precinct’s infrastructure since its opening in 2021.

In addition to live music from local musician Rach Brennan, guests enjoyed a panel discussion featuring Residential Leaders from each campus reflecting on the highlights of the year, as well as a presentation from former Residential Leader and Deakin alum Amber Sharp, who spoke fondly of her time on Res, the life-long friendships she has made, and how her leadership experience has set her up well for a career in teaching and provided a mindset to identify and grasp opportunities as they arise.

Reflecting on the event, Emerging Leader award winner Erin Garbler (Waurn Ponds) said,

The Deakin Residential Awards was an amazing night, showing how diverse the Deakin Res community is. The night demonstrated to me that Res is a supportive environment, assisting with the transition from student into adulthood and life outside of school.

Tilak Patel, Academic Award winner for the faculty of Business and Law (Warrnambool) said,

To know our efforts are recognised, motivates me to continue working towards my goals.

Residential Leader Tea Van de Burgt received the Leadership Award (Burwood), and said,

Knowing that I had made a significant positive impact on the student body at Res within just one year means the world to me, and receiving this award was such an incredible, rewarding and heart-warming experience.

And fellow Leadership Award winner, Jorja Brown from Waterfront said,

It was genuinely a surprise to receive the award. It means so much to me that I have impacted my fellow ressies and that they nominated me for the Leadership Award. Makes all the work and effort worth it and is great to be recognised for that.

This event is always a highlight of the calendar year for us at DRS, as we bring staff and students together to celebrate the positive culture and outstanding contributions to life on Res.

Congratulations to all our award recipients for 2022!

Emerging Leader Award

• Erin Eagles, Burwood

• Erin Garbler, Waurn Ponds

• André Vitti, Waterfront

• Georgia Williams, Warrnambool

Leadership Award

• Tea Van de Burgt, Burwood

• Mitchell Cook, Waurn Ponds

• Jorja Brown, Waterfront

• Sheridan Finn, Warrnambool

RESPECT Values Award

• Hà Tô, Burwood

• Reuben James, Waurn Ponds

• Noah Deane, Waterfront

• Laura Lang, Warrnambool

Academic Award - Faculty of Science, Engineering and Built Environment

• El Martin, Waurn Ponds

• Cynthia Yi Min Chee, Burwood

• Phoebe Edwards, Warrnambool

• Juliet Doling, Waterfront

Academic Award - Faculty of Arts and Education

• Isabelle Martino, Waurn Ponds

• Vamika Satrasala, Burwood

• Harvey Evans, Warrnambool

• Chloe Lochhead, Waterfront

Academic Award - Faculty of Business and Law

• Rachael Sedlacek, Waurn Ponds

• Bhavya Bagaria, Burwood

• Tilak Patel, Warrnambool

• Alyssa Ward, Waterfront

Academic Award - Faculty of Health

• Aryan Modi, Waurn Ponds

• Rowan McGrath, Burwood

• Sherry Wang, Warrnambool

• Felipe Chiriboga Vega, Waterfront

Watch the full video of the awards ceremony below: