Student Leadership Awards

This award recognises a current Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander VU student for their contribution to Victoria University and to the wider Aboriginal community.

The recipient of the Moondani Balluk Aboriginal Student Award will be selected by Moondani Balluk.

The recipient will receive a $500 prize.

Moondani Balluk Aboriginal Student Award 2025 – Adam Read, Bachelor of Education (EBED)

This award recognises a current Victoria University student who has made an outstanding contribution to the university and/or the broader community through volunteering. 

The recipient of this award will receive a $500 prize. 

Volunteer of the Year Award 2025 – Hai Pham, Master of Business Analytics (BMBU)

This award recognises the outstanding contribution of a current VU international student to the VU community; this student embraces what it means to be an international student at Victoria University: the University of opportunity and success.

The recipient of this award will receive a $500 prize.

VU Spirit International Student Award 2025 – Ivy Fiecas, Master of Business Analytics (BMBU)

This award recognises a current VU undergraduate student who has made an outstanding contribution to the VU community; this student embraces what it means to be an undergraduate student at Victoria University: the University of Opportunity and Success.

The recipient of this award will receive a $500 prize.

VU Spirit Undergraduate Student Award 2025 – Victor Hong, Bachelor of Information Technology (NBIT)

This award recognises a current VU postgraduate coursework or research student who has made an outstanding contribution to the VU community; this student embraces what it means to be a postgraduate student at Victoria University: the University of Opportunity and Success.

The recipient of this award will receive a $500 prize.

VU Spirit Postgraduate Student Award 2025 – Saman Bakhtawar, Master of Education (EMED)

This award recognises a TAFE student who has demonstrated an ability to assist and lead within the classroom and practical environment or displays leadership and involvement in co-curricular and/or extracurricular activities.

The recipient of this award will receive a $500 prize.

VU Spirit TAFE Student Award 2025 – Young Kwan Yun, Certificate IV in Plumbing and Services (CPC409220) 

This award is sponsored by Alumni Relations. The recipient of this award will receive a $500 prize.

The Victoria University Alumni community includes 301,000 graduates living and working in over 136 countries. If you are a graduate from VU, our TAFE division (formerly VU Polytechnic) or any of our predecessor or offshore institutions you automatically become a lifelong member of our alumni community.

Our alumni live the VU values of Always WEST: Welcoming, Ethical, Shaping the future, being Together. This award, proudly supported by the Alumni Relations team, has been designed to help the recipient receive the best chance of achieving their goals as they transition from student to employee.

This peak award includes a 12-month mentorship from an alumni leader in your chosen area and a cash prize to help you kick start your professional wardrobe or invest in some tech.

2025 Outstanding Student – Marcellia Veronika Jonathan, Bachelor of Business (BBNS)

Mr Raj Kannan is one of Victoria University’s distinguished 90 Legends.

He graduated from Footscray Institute of Technology (FIT) in 1988 with a Bachelor of Engineering. He is currently Partner and Executive Director, Deloitte Consulting South East Asia. He was President of the Overseas Student Association and Co-President of the Student Representative Council and involved in other student leadership activities.

Mr Kannan believes that the leadership experience he gained at FIT was invaluable to his later career and as such he is passionate about giving back to the University.

As a result Mr Kannan has established a scholarship that will support and encourage students to undertake leadership activities at VU. This prestigious award comes with a prize in the form of a $5,000 scholarship.

Recipient obligations

• The recipient will be required to provide a report to the Scholarships office for VU and the donor showcasing their activities and impact of receiving the award.
• The recipient will be required to sit on the Selection Panel to determine the Raj Kannan Leadership Scholarship recipient for the following year.
• The recipient will also have the opportunity to participate in the Student Leadership Awards ceremony as a presenter or student host.

Raj Kannan Leadership Scholarship Award 2025 – Olive Mboya, Bachelor of Engineering (Honours) (Architectural Engineering) 

This award recognises the outstanding achievements of a Student Group that was established in 2025 and has benefited its members and the wider VU community.

The recipients of this award will receive a $500 team prize.

2025 award: VU International Affairs Club: Trong Nhan Nguyen , Chanamon Wichaiphrom, Hoor Ethar

This award recognises an outstanding Student Group for their achievements and success in meeting their mission in 2025.

The recipients of this award will receive a $500 team prize.

2025 award: Women in Tech – Jie (Summer) Xia, Deanne Pereira,  Ana Pieters

This Award recognises a student group that has delivered an outstanding event which significantly contributed to the student experience at Victoria University. The winning event will demonstrate strong planning, meaningful student engagement, positive impact, and alignment with the values of the Clubs Program and the broader university community.

The recipients of this award will receive a $500 team prize.

2025 awards: Victoria University Computer Science Society– Pankaj Bansal, Amandeep Kaur