We’d like you to meet some of our students and alumni who have achieved success at university or in their careers. In 'Students & alumni': Dream big, work hard Accounting and finance Every opportunity counts Samantha Rodrigues' co-op year gave her valuable skills and landed her a job after graduation. Counting his blessings State Member of Parliament and former Shadow Treasurer, Kim Wells was a VU accounting student almost 40 years ago. Building international connections International business student Michelle Lee Pei Hua has built a global network of connections and friends through VU studies. Building and construction Working in a welding wonderland Tahani Shamroukh took VU's Adult Migrant English Program and discovered a love for welding which led to employment. Prize-winning plumber VU plumbing graduate, Bryce Williamson, is Winner of the 2017 Energy Safe Victoria Award. Engineering VU’s new student accommodation Engineering graduate Emma Buis is lead site engineer on the University’s new student accommodation. Plumbing apprentice one of the world’s best Dylan Di Martino took his skills to the world stage and proved he is one of the world’s best young plumbing apprentices. Business and management Indian resident turned Melbourne marketer Former VU international student Crispino Santamaria says VU’s Centre for Student Success played a pivotal role in his entry to the Melbourne workforce. Capitalising on her studies After first studying education, Jessica Pond returned to university at VU and landed her “dream job”. Dream come true for Endeavour scholar Winning the Australian Government's prestigious Endeavour Scholarship has been a dream come true for Cambodia's Prasat Sum. Indian sports teacher accelerates her passion with VU Neha Jhunjhunwala, physical education teacher and head of the sports department at Cambridge International School in Punjab, India, chose VU to take her career to the next level. Mastering the business of health With a strong background in health and business, Debbie Ruiz’s MBA gives her the edge in her role as revenue manager at Western Health. Projecting success Sarah Oleksiuk’s determination to become a successful project manager is winning her awards and admiration. Making the move to management After completing a VU bachelor degree, Sally Cheung returned for industry-relevant postgraduate study. More than one trick up his sleeve After a big career change, executive manager Paul Moran took on a DBA at VU and is now giving career opportunities to VU students. Marketing mogul A mere six months after landing her dream job as an executive with Marketing Eye, Samantha Dargan was promoted to marketing manager. Moving up in the world Jen Seymen had always been employed as a supervisor in hospitality before she undertook hospitality studies at VU. There she found the tools she needed to gain employment at a higher level. Culture and arts Model citizen Achol Arow’s VU journey has helped her find her voice as a political leader and women’s advocate. History in the making VU Arts graduate Olivia Slater (Yamatji/Noongar) is making history as the first Indigenous Australian woman to undertake a PhD at Cambridge University. Gaining global perspectives Seizing every challenge available to her, Mary Amon thrived on her international study tour to Italy. Party of five Victorian Student Band of the Year, VU’s Party On My Darling are honing their skills at Kindred Studios. Future filmmaker on the rise Benjamin Laut has used skills and connections gained at VU to co-found an award-winning film production company. Prize-winning printmaker Quinn Daly discovered her passion for printmaking and gained career direction while studying visual arts at VU. A dream creative writing career Alice Robinson pursued her passion for writing with a PhD and achieved her dream of becoming a novelist and academic. Education and transition Swapping roles from student to lecturer International student Yanri says studying in Australia is the best way to strengthen his knowledge. A flexible education VU student turned VU teacher, Sam Dang followed a flexible pathway from diploma to postgraduate study. Mastering the art of teaching for the gift of education From a small village in northern Bali, Dodi is studying his Master of Education to one day return to his hometown and teach English. Placements that pay off VU’s extensive practical placements and industry connections took Joshua Le from the classroom into his dream career as an educator. From the hallways of VU to employment in hospitality Adam Furey has enjoyed regular work placements over the past two years thanks to VU’s strong industry connections. Top of the class in Education Benjamin Foster credits VU’s industry links and practical learning opportunities for taking him to his dream job. Teaching to learn Returning to study was a challenge for Irena Sugarevski, but with the right support and the right placement, she found her dream job. Support and success A professional athlete-turned-teacher has been named one of the world’s top 50 educators in a $1 million competition. Engineering Home away from home Sultan Bin Rubayan received a prestigious scholarship from the Saudi Arabian Cultural Mission to pursue studies in engineering at VU. Building success from the ground up Kav Dassanayake landed a job at one of Victoria's most innovative Government departments after he graduated. Prepared for employment in engineering Kim Taylor’s passion for electronics led him to VU. He completed a Masters of Engineering to expand his career options. Journey to NASA Professor Adrian Stoica’s VU research helped propel him towards becoming one of NASA’s most esteemed engineers. Engineered to succeed Julien Lepine’s research into transport vehicle vibration at VU caught the eye of University of Cambridge. A head start in electrical engineering VU’s industry links and support services helped engineer Fatima Osman find work before she even graduated. Health sciences Dream big, work hard When Wes Clarke didn’t get the ATAR he’d hoped for at the end of Year 12, he didn’t let that stop him from achieving his dream to become a sport scientist. From VU student to medical doctor After studying at VU, Sharlyne is reaching her dream of becoming a qualified doctor. Nursing success through support Aaron Lethlean overcame personal difficulties through VU’s support to graduate with a degree in nursing. A pathway to a dream After escaping the Democratic Republic of Congo's civil war at 16 and spending three years in a refugee camp in Tanzania, Mlisho Karega came to Australia with the dream of becoming a doctor. Achieving dreams of a beauty career Sharni Chandler has overcome years of bullying at school to become a prize-winning make-up artist. Gaining momentum in midwifery Emma Heard credits VU's industry connections and placement opportunities for preparing her for a career in midwifery. Hospitality, tourism and event management Taking Victoria to the world Tourism graduate, Susi Miller, combines her work and passion for our State with a dream job at Tourism Victoria. Scholarship to Shanghai Student Hannah Simboro won the only Australian scholarship to attend an international events congress in Shanghai. Information systems and computing Hacking her way to success Through a combination of supportive VU pathways, hard work and hackathon success, Zahra Rezai found her place in the world of IT. Data star Andrew Hinton's IT pathway has seen him rewarded with a position as a cyber security threat hunter at Telstra. From finance to mobile app developer International student Vinh is living proof that you can never be overqualified, or that a change of career isn’t just a dream. Working the dream at Google Through seizing practical experience during her studies, and professional opportunities since, Christine Soriano has landed her dream job at Google. Law and legal services Set for success Studying law thanks to two prestigious scholarships, Joseph Hafoka is finding success through VU’s new First Year Model. A learning journey to law After fleeing the murder of his parents, Burundi refugee Innocent Karabagega has followed a pathway to Bachelor of Laws. A league of her own As the youngest of three siblings to study law at VU, multi award-winning alumnus Amanda McDermott is leading the way in her career. A career dream come true Iman Osman dreamed of studying law since childhood. VU’s support programs and practical learning opportunities helped make that a reality. Grabbing opportunities with both hands Ante Sentić didn't believe he would ever practice law, but he made the most of his chance and has already been recognised at various levels for his achievements. Pathway to a legal passion Marco Man’s diverse study pathway has led him from VCE to a Bachelor of Laws. Raising the bar After achieving her position at a top tier law firm, Christie Jones is taking on fresh challenges – as a barrister, law student mentor and parent to two children. Achieving his dream Vincent Shin didn't let a violent childhood stop him from realising his dream of becoming a lawyer. Marketing and communications Designing his future International student Seun Omolewa is determined to bring his passion for filmmaking to life. The happiest job on earth With the kick-start of a Bachelor of Business from VU, Beck Reeves now works as Marketing Manager at Walt Disney Company Australia. Follow your dreams Building on a background in communications, Kuhan Supramaniam came to Victoria University (VU) to expand his skill set in digital media. Making it in marketing After completing his masters degree in business marketing, Sebastian Au landed a job at his dream company, L'Oreal. Networking for a career in media Kayla McLeod leveraged the University’s industry connections to forge an exciting career in media. Making it in media Muamer Hot gained employment at Starcom MediaVest Group before graduation after completing an internship through VU. Nepalese student making news Postgraduate communication student, Niru Tripathi, has become the first female editor of Nepali Print Media Australia. Science Cancer researcher success William and Elizabeth Fisher Scholarship winner Charlett Giuliani has been awarded the highest Graduate Women Victoria prize for 2015. A path of opportunity Kuorwel Kuorwel went from refugee to research scientist with a PhD in chemistry. Finding the right fit at VU After completing two different science-based bachelor degrees at other universities, Yao-Han Lee’s hunt for an interesting honours project took him to VU where he found top marks, supportive teaching staff, and the passion for PhD research. A pathway to PhD in science Ghofran Al-nasiri was given a chance to achieve her dreams of becoming a researcher through VU’s pathways program. Budding marine scientist Mary Cowling took her interest in the environment to New Zealand to study fur seals. Social sciences and community services Success in her first year Olena Nguyen says VU’s First Year Model has made her journey to become a social worker much less stressful. Determination is key to success Leaving high school early didn't stop Fatima Abdul from completing two degrees with VU. A global community in the classroom Thanks to the rich and diverse learning environment at VU, Angelo Monizjong is getting the most out of his Master of International Community Development. Making global connections Andrew Pascoe completed a placement and year-long residency in Papua New Guinea where he made a widely screened documentary. Aiming for change Sara Graham, a ‘quiet achiever,’ chose a career close to her heart. Award-winning community worker Celia Tran was named Premier’s Volunteer of the Year 2016 for her tireless community work. Going global An eye-opening overseas placement in Malaysia ignited Robert Impey’s passion for Community Development. Giving back to the community After returning to study as a mature-age student and sole parent, Renee Page forged a career in community services. Sport, recreation and human movement Ninja’s career leaping ahead Ninja Warrior Australia semi-finalist and strength and conditioning coach/educator Kadeem Aarons has his sights set on an exciting future. A perfect pairing Brooke Muscat's combined degree in sport science and psychological studies has taken her to an exciting role with Western Bulldogs Community Foundation. A grand slam of a degree Since graduation Shruti has taken a lead role improving sporting culture in her home country, India. Mastering her sporting career Sharna Naidu is scoring goals through her placement at Melbourne Victory, where she works as the Academy’s Performance Analysis Coordinator. Creating a benchmark in sport integrity Lorcan Mathews is working with the next generation of local footballers as Melbourne Victory Academy’s U15 Team Manager. Sisters making it in sport rehabilitation Sisters Bianca and Rosemarie Michetti followed pathways from TAFE to postgraduate study. Sights set on VU Elise Wiggins worked hard to get into VU, citing its sporting facilities and industry partnerships as major draw cards. Seizing every opportunity Driven by his passion for rugby, Eoin McVeigh is forging a career in London as a performance analyst. Transport and logistics Community champion Deepak Vinayak's work as a multicultural community champion earned him a 2018 Pride of Australia medal. Supply and apply Maree Stuart completed her masters as an investment in her supply chain and management career. Opening doors to a career in logistics VU graduate and current masters student Bart Phaosihavong finds that education is a pathway to new career opportunities. Staying ahead of the logistics game Eric Law developed the practical and theoretical skill set to kick-start a successful career in the logistics industry. Holden the fundamentals for success With the support and guidance of VU, Blake Dutta has forged himself a place alongside GM Holden’s senior leadership team. Scholarship paves way Former David Hay Scholarship recipient Leanne Bradford has quickly progressed in her logistics career.
