Monash University's Talented Student Performer Welcome Dinner
The 2016 Team MONASH Elite Student Performer Dinner was a resounding success. The dinner was held to welcome the 233 talented students in Monash University’s Elite Student Performer Scheme.
The program aids talented students from disciplines including sport, e-sport, art, and music. The event recognised the outstanding achievements of these students, as well as gave them the opportunity to share their experiences with their peers and those who have gone before them.
"The 2016 Welcome event was such a success as our Elite Student performers mingled with Faculty contacts and University Sport Hall of Famers in a relaxed convivial environment," said Team MONASH Director Martin Doulton. "It is a very rare opportunity for our students to both share their various experiences with their peers and to be able to learn directly from those that have successfully combined tertiary study, sporting excellence and business success."
Three of Monash University's illustrious Alumni and Sport Hall of Fame Inductee's joined faculty staff members and over fifty of our current talented students at the dinner.
Spread amongst the students, these Monash alumni and sports men and women provided insight and guidance from their own experiences.
In attendance was victorious America's Cup Skipper and current President of Swimming Australia, John Bertrand (BEng(Hons) 1970); Australian Softballer and current Director at Marshall White, Kate Strickland (BComn 2003); and Australian Test Cricketer and current CEO of Cricket Victoria, Tony Dodemaide.
The night was capped off by an incredible speech from the Dean of Law, Professor Bryan Horrigan. Professor Horrigan spoke passionately about the values an athlete needs to succeed in sport. That being an athlete takes more than just physique.
“The Elite Student Performer Scheme represents the fourth pillar of the kind of ‘elite performer’ intelligence you need and get from the Monash Elite Performer Scheme. It joins the other three pillars (different kinds of intelligence) offered by Monash University – Book-Smarts, Street-Smarts, People-Smarts, and Body-Smarts. Unity and integration of heart, mind, soul/spirit, and physique, and never physique alone, as any elite performer can tell you.”
As an athlete himself, he made light of the commonalities that top-class academics and elite athletes shared, in the hours of dedication and hard work that success in both fields requires. Professor Horrigan’s speech was insightful, humorous, and inspiring. According to everyone in attendance, it was the highlight of the night, thank you Bryan!
