Divyangana Sharma has won the coveted Victorian Premier’s Award – International Student of the Year 2021-22.
Divyangana came to Melbourne to study nursing at Holmesglen Institute in February 2020.
She has also won Victorian International Education Awards 2021-22 in the Higher Education category.
During the COVID-19 crisis, she joined the frontline healthcare workforce by working at pop-up COVID-19 testing sites between classes.
She says:
“The cultural diversity, inclusion of LGBTQIA+ community, education opportunities, art and culture is what makes Melbourne a unique city and works like a magnet for people wanting to study abroad.“
Divyangana was also named the International Student of the Year at Holmesglen Institute, which also nominated her for the World Federation of Colleges and Polytechnics’ Outstanding International Student Award.
Ritika Saxena won the International Student of the Year award in the Research category.
Ritika moved to Melbourne as an 18-year-old and is now a PhD student involved in stem cell research. She won the Melbourne Medical School’s Research Symposium 2021 Image Contest.
She says:
“When you move to Victoria, you are an international student. But by the time you finish your degree, you will be truly global.“
Ritika has developed the ability to set up complex and exciting experiments to help search for the elusive apex rare haematopoietic stem cell. She is also a part of the Novo Nordisk Foundation Centre for Stem Cell Medicine (reNEW). Her aim is to one day have her own research group and help patients who need a bone marrow transplant.
Victorian Premier’s international student awards recognise and showcase exceptional Victorian international students and alumni who champion international education in Victoria and across the globe.
Gonul Serbest, Chief Executive Officer of Global Victoria, congratulated all the finalists and winners in her LinkedIn post:
“So wonderful to come back together for the Victorian International Education Awards and recognise and celebrate excellence amongst Victoria’s international students and sector. A great opportunity to shine light on their inspiring contributions to our community and academic performance and leadership. A huge congrats to all our finalists and winners.”
These awards are an initiative of the Victorian Government to celebrate outstanding international students and education providers in Victoria. Further, these awards recognise the Victorian Government’s commitment to the education sector and leadership in our community.
Award winners in each student category, with the exception of the International Alumnus of the Year, are awarded $6,000 each to support their studies and up to two runners-up per student category are awarded $2,000 each. The recipient of the ‘Premier’s Award – International Student of the Year’ receives $10,000 to support their studies.