Jyi Lawton's outstanding leadership efforts as a justice student, youth worker, rugby league player/coach, student ambassador and Indigenous mentor have been recognised with QUT's 2014 Student Leader of the Year award.
The multi-talented, 23-year-old Bidjara man from Mackay is the first Indigenous recipient of the title.
Jyi received his award at a presentation evening on June 4, where he thanked guests including his partner, mum and brother, and members of QUT's Oodgeroo Unit and Equity Services for their support.
"It means everything to me; I probably wouldn't be enrolled if it wasn't for their support," he said.
Jyi is in his final year of a Bachelor of Justice degree with the Faculty of Law and has always had a passion for helping others.
He has been an active QUT Student Ambassador, Equity Ambassador and Oodgeroo Unit Ambassador since 2010 and has also mentored young school students as part of the Australian Indigenous Mentor Experience while at QUT.
A talented rugby league player, he coaches the Under 12s Kambu team, has played in the Jack Barba Memorial Team, and represented QUT in the National Indigenous Tertiary Education University Games.
In 2012 he was awarded an Indigenous Cadetship with the Law and Justice Research Department within Queensland's Department of Premier and Cabinet, and he has participated in projects supporting Indigenous communities across Queensland and Western Australia.
In addition to his part-time justice studies, he is also currently a youth worker at the Brisbane Youth Detention Centre at Wacol - a role he hopes to continue after he graduates from university.
"Next year I'd like to keep working in the detention centre and I'm hoping to move up to a role as a program coordinator there at some stage," he said.
"I got into justice studies to be able to promote social justice for Aboriginal people and the community. It's the rewarding nature of it, and having the opportunity to have an influence on other people's lives."
QUT's annual Student Leadership Awards are an initiative of the QUT Alumni Board and aim to recognise QUT students for the quality of their leadership and engagement with the university and wider community. All students currently enrolled at QUT are eligible to be nominated.
QUT 2014 Student Leadership Awards recipients
Student Leader of the Year
- Jyi Lawton (Bachelor of Justice)
Special Excellence Award
- Thomas Davies (Bachelor of Business)
Student Leadership Excellence Award
- Vincent Balmes, Bachelor of Engineering (Mechancial)
- Melissa Blacklock, Bachelor of Education (Secondary)
- Tianna Camilleri, Bachelor of Nursing/Bachelor of Health Science
- Bikram Chadha, Bachelor of Business (Honours)
- Courtney Coombs, Doctor of Philosophy (Creative Industries)
- David Lewis, Bachelor of Business/Bachelor of Laws
- Ben McGarry, Bachelor of Nursing
- Stacey Percival, Bachelor of IT/Bachelor of Laws
- Zachary Van Haaften-Thompson, Bachelor of Business
Media contact: Mechelle McMahon, QUT media officer, media@qut.edu.au
