The University of Queensland will award 72 medals for outstanding scholarship at graduation ceremonies at Mayne Hall, St Lucia on May 12 and May 14.
University Medals are awarded to students who achieved excellent results in their courses completed in 1996.
Winners are chosen following careful consideration by the Education Committee of the University's Academic Board and are approved by the University's Vice-Chancellor, Professor John Hay.
To qualify for a University Medal, students must achieve a minimum 6.3 grade point average (GPA) out of a possible seven and complete honours degrees.
President of the Academic Board Professor Andrew Lister said the high number of students achieving University Medals reinforced the University's position as the State's premier choice of university for high achieving students.
Among the 1996 medallists are:
May 12 ceremony, 6pm:
- Jacqueline Peel (LLB), who is graduating student speaker at her May 12 law graduation ceremony. Ms Peel, now working as an articled clerk with Brisbane law firm Allen Allen and Hemsley, achieved a Grade Point Average (GPA) of 6.9 for her combined bachelor of science (BSc)/bachelor of laws degrees - the highest GPA ever obtained by a University of Queensland law graduate. Ms Peel studied environmental science subjects and genetics as part of her BSc and achieved first class honours for her law degree. While at University, the former Brisbane Girls' Grammar student and Chapel Hill resident won a string of prizes for academic achievement including the Walter Harrison Prize 1994, the McCullough Robertson Prize 1994, the Australian Mining and Petroleum Law Association Natural Resources Law prize 1995 and the Corrs Chambers Westgarth Prize 1995. Contact: telephone 3833 3513.
May 14 ceremony, 6pm:
- Rosemary Gilmore (BOccThy), who was awarded an eight-week National Multiple Sclerosis Summer Vacation Scholarship by the National Multiple Sclerosis Society to research and prepare a report over the 1995-96 summer vacation period. Ms Gilmore's study examined the strategies individuals with MS used to cope with pain. She investigated the prevalence of pain in people with MS, recording how pain interfered with activities of daily living. A second objective was to understand which particular coping strategies people used to help manage their pain. Ms Gilmore said the scholarship had given her valuable research experience such as designing questionnaires and face-to-face interviewing as well as a head start on her honours thesis completed last year. Contact: telephone 3365 2808.
- Gretta Sloan (BPhty), who was the fourth-year representative for the Physiotherapy Department for a departmental review carried out by the University last year. She also represented Queensland's physiotherapy students at national physiotherapy students' symposiums in 1995 in Melbourne and in 1996 in Perth. Contact: telephone 3365 2019.
May 14 ceremony, 8pm:
- Husband and wife Daniel (BAppSc (Natural Systems and Wildlife Management) and Tania Murphy (BAppSc (Horticultural Technology)). Mrs Murphy graduated with first class honours from the University's Gatton College in December last year, receiving the 1996 College Medal for the most outstanding student and the Lachlan Rule Memorial Medal for the highest level of achievement.At the same ceremony, Mr Murphy graduated in Natural Systems and Wildlife Management with honours and received the Graham Saunders Memorial Award.
Previously high school teachers at Capella, the couple said they realised they needed to upgrade their qualifications and returned to study in 1990. 'Having made the decision to resume study we decided to really bite the bullet, broaden our horizons and follow our long-term interests in horticulture and natural systems,' Mrs Murphy said. The couple, both in their early thirties, agree the decision to return to study was a big one and, at the time, they were uncertain of their ability to handle the challenge. 'Going back to study is a bit of a financial strain, but we were willing to accept that because we believed it was a sound long-term decision,' Mr Murphy said. 'Our mutual support has helped us through. And the fact we have done so well has been a bonus.' During their time at Gatton College the couple, originally from Mackay, lived in Laidley where they were active members of the Lockyer Watershed Management Association. Mrs Murphy collected seeds and propagated local endemic plant species, while Mr Murphy was involved with Laidley Shire Council's remnant vegetation mapping program.
- Richard Grantham (BMus), who achieved straight sevens (the highest mark possible) for all bar one subject of his degree. As part of his studies, he developed his own composition method based on mathematics. The method, related to Chaos Theory, was first used around 40 years ago. The end result of Mr Grantham's adaptation is what he terms an 'anti-symphony' as it is not based on conventional symphonic composition rules. He was the only student focusing on composition as a principal study in his year. During his University years, Mr Grantham played the viola as part of the University of Queensland Symphony Orchestra. He also plays the instrument for the Queensland Youth Symphony Orchestra which toured Japan and Korea earlier this year. Contact: telephone 3378 1649.
University medallists for 1996 are: Nicole Louise Ada (LLB), Belinda Renee Barnett, BA (Psychology), Dean Raymond Beasley, BAppSc (Horticultural Technology), Brendan Gregory Behan, BE (Computer Systems)), Benjamin Andrew Burton (BSc (Mathematics)), Stephen Lochiel Cameron (BSc (Parasitology)), Amanda Shiu-Tan Cheng (BE (Electrical and Electronic)), Sheila Jane Cooper (MBBS), Gordon Stewart Corfield (BVSc), Catherine Ingrid Cue (BSpPath), Justine Susanah Curry (BVSc), Philip Andrew Dalton (MBBS), Craig Eldershaw (BSc (Computer Science and Mathematics)), David Meurig Evans (BSc (Psychology)), Owen Jan Francis (BE (Civil)), Rosemary Kate Gilmore (BOccThy), Melissa Joy Goodwin (BAppSc (Rural Technology)), Andrew Douglas Graham (BE (Mining)), Richard James Grantham (BMus), David Stuart Gregory (BE (Computer Systems)), Kirsten Cheyne Grinter (BPhty), Michael Charles Growder (BEcon), Paul Robert Grundy (BAppSc (Horticultural Technology)), John Samuel Gunders (BA (English)), Jason Lance Hall (BCom), Kathryn Ann Hall (BSc (Parasitology)), Anthony Robert Herbert (MBBS), Anthony Noel Hibberd (BSc (Mathematics)), Elizabeth Jane Humphries (BAppSc (Rural Technology)), Ian Robert Innes (LLB), Sandra Fay Jones (BDSc), Sarah Louise Kanowski (BA (English)), Matthew Jeffcott Lancaster (LLB), Elizabeth Anne Leeson (BVSc), Andrew Craig Leslie (BE (Mechanical)), Susan Leanne Leslie (BE (Chemical)), Jonathan Lok Chuen Felix Lo (BE (Electrical and Electronic)), Mark Andrew McInnes (BA (English)), Anne Elizabeth McNee (BPhty), Andrea Louise Monks (LLB), Enrique Montiel (BE (Computer Systems)), John Patrick Moore (LLB), Daniel Thomas Murphy, (BAppSc (Natural Systems And Wildlife Management)), Tania Mary Murphy (BAppSc (Horticultural Technology)), Fleurette Nieuwenburg (BSc (Physics)), Derek John Nuss (BA (History)), Rowena Jane Orr (LLB), Jacqueline Wendy Peel (LLB), Jeffrey James Poacher (BA (English)), Melinda Louise Price (BAppSc (Food Science and Technology)), Fiona Mary Purdie (LLB), Michael James Randle (BE (Mechanical)), Dale Alexander Rayner (LLB), Adam Reginald Reardon (BE (Electrical and Electronic)), Bryan Anthony Reeves (BE (Computer Systems)), Joanna Ruth Richardson (BA (History)), Kathryn Anne Seton (BA (Anthropolgy)), Jamie Barry Shield (BSc (Computer Science)), Gretta Megan Sloan (BPhty), Sharon Leanne Stay (MBBS), Caroline Vanessa Taylor (BE (Mechanical)), Siok-Keen Tey (MBBS), Bradley James Tonkes (BSc (Computer Science)), Christofo Torrisi (BE (Chemical)), Andrew Frederick Tuch (LLB), Gene Patrick Tunny (BEcon), Jennifer Ann Tunny (BA (Ancient History)), Kylie Jane Van Dorssen (BPhty), Nicholas James Walker (BAppSc (Horticultural Technology)), Richard Francis Wilding (BA (English)), Kin-Yip Wong (BE (Electrical and Electronic)), Rafal Andrew Zakrzewski (LLB).
For further information, contact University Manager, Protocol and Ceremonies, Robin Calcutt, telephone 3365 3159.
