Held on Wednesday 20 May, the annual awards brought together students, staff, industry partners and donors to honour academic performance, leadership and the broader contributions students make to their communities.
Deputy Vice-Chancellor CoBL and Vice-President, Professor Colin Picker, said the awards reflect the College’s commitment to developing graduates who are highly capable and innovative.
“Tonight we celebrate not just achievement, but impact. Our students are tackling complex global challenges, embracing new technologies and lifting others up along the way,” said Professor Picker.
More than 50 students were recognised across disciplines including accounting, economics, finance, marketing, management and law, with awards supported by industry partners, philanthropic donors and professional bodies.
The evening’s most prestigious award, the College of Business and Law Medal, was awarded to Trong (Terry) Tri Oach, in recognition of his exceptional academic achievement, leadership and community impact.
Terry completed his Master of Business Information Technology achieving an outstanding GPA across both undergraduate and postgraduate study, while demonstrating a strong commitment to supporting fellow students.
“After completing my bachelor's degree at RMIT Vietnam, I continued pursuing a Master of Business IT to build a stronger foundation in how technology is applied and governed in real organisational settings. The program’s professional accreditation and industry-focused learning environment also gave me confidence that I was building something I could actually use. The WIL courses especially made that feel concrete, bridging the gap between the classroom and where I actually wanted to end up,” Terry said.
As a Student Learning Advisor in the Swanston Library, he provided frontline academic support and helped create an inclusive environment for fellow students.
Beyond this, Terry contributed as a peer mentor and student ambassador, and worked on projects spanning sustainability, ethical AI and innovation in education.
“I believe RMIT is an excellent place to study not only because of its reputation, diversity, and learning facilities, but also because of the strong support provided to students through services and communities such as Student Support, RUSU, and the range of student clubs on offer.”
Terry said he felt incredible happy and honoured to receive the CoBL Medal, “This recognition has given me more confidence in myself and reminded me that all the hard work, challenges, and persistence throughout my journey were truly worth it. I also believe recognition like this not only supports students financially and emotionally, but also inspires current and future students to continue working hard and striving for their goals.”
