Title

Medicine student wins inaugural Saint Mary MacKillop Award

Document Type

Media Release

Publication Date

Fall 15-4-2011

Publisher Name

The University of Notre Dame Australia, Fremantle Campus

Publication Place

Fremantle

Abstract

First year Medicine student Amy Rosario is the inaugural recipient of The University of Notre Dame Australia’s (UNDA) Saint Mary MacKillop Award for her outstanding contribution to the advancement of the Catholic mission and the Objects of the University on the Fremantle Campus.

Ms Rosario was congratulated for her achievements in front of academic staff, fellow students and family members at the UNDA Awards Ceremony held at the Fremantle Campus on Tuesday, April 12.

The St Mary MacKillop Award was one of four service awards presented which recognised students’ commitment, dedication and enthusiasm to pastoral care at university and in the wider community.

The Award was established in recognition of St Mary MacKillop’s canonisation on October 17, 2010 – the only Australian to be recognised by the Catholic Church as a saint.

It adds to Ms Rosario’s growing number of accolades including the Dianne Wansborough Scholarship for Nursing in 2008 and the St John of God Health Care Outstanding Student Award in 2009.

On Campus, Ms Rosario has also been a student mentor, a student ambassador, a member of the Student Affairs Committee, President of the Nursing Society and part of the Mary MacKillop Festival in 2010.

“With all the work I did to get the Festival happening, to actually have an award named after her is so amazing and to be the first recipient is a huge honour,” Ms Rosario said.

“I think it’s really important to enjoy your undergraduate degree as it’s one of the only times in your life where you have the opportunity, time and flexibility to do all these beautiful things Notre Dame offers you.”

The Archbishop Foley Award was presented to Vincent Restifo, the Faulkner Award to Mardi McNamara and Sarah Crute won her third Service Award at Notre Dame as she received the Helen Lombard Award.

Ms Crute has been the President and Vice President of the Notre Dame Students for Social Justice and is currently the national representative for the St Vincent de Paul Society.

The highest academic award presented at the ceremony, the University Medal, was won by 2010 Bachelor of Commerce graduate Gemma Roddan.

The award is reserved for the highest achieving graduate from an undergraduate course on the Fremantle Campus in the previous year.

Currently employed with Deloitte Australia, a firm that provides risk management and financial advice to selected clients, she said the best part of her Notre Dame experience was having very good lecturers and tutors.

“There were a few stand outs that helped guide me along the way and give me the capacity to do the absolute best I could,” Ms Roddan said.

Vice Chancellor Professor Celia Hammond congratulated all students on their achievements and encouraged them to continue striving for the best results.

“To those who have won academic awards, we are recognising your effort, your initiative, your perseverance and your dedication to your studies,” Prof Hammond said at the ceremony.

“To those of you who have won our service awards, we are recognising that you have acted on your inherent capacity for love and compassion for others in concrete ways.”

The Vice Chancellor’s Medal for undergraduate studies went to the following students:

  • School of Arts and Sciences – Nigel Hayward and Jessica Rawnsley
  • School of Business – Gemma Thomson
  • School of Education – Jessie Martyr
  • School of Health Sciences – Michelle Davis
  • School of Law – Megan Kingdon
  • School of Medicine – Justin Barton
  • School of Nursing – Carrie Clarkson
  • School of Philosophy and Theology – Ryan Lister
  • School of Physiotherapy – Arnika Lindbeck and Jonathan Mathers

Mark Pearson and Helen Wilson both received the Vice Chancellor’s Medal for postgraduate studies, recognising their outstanding results in the Doctor of Counselling program.

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