On Thursday the 21st May, RMIT University's College of Business held its student award ceremony to celebrate the achievements of the 2014 cohort and to award student prizes. The ceremonies were held in the iconic Storey Hall at RMIT University in Melbourne.

The Stas Lukaitis Memorial Prize was established by the ACS in memory of Dr Stas Lukaitis, an RMIT academic who had more than 30 years teaching and consulting experience in Business IT. Dr Lukaitis was an active member and Fellow of the Victorian Branch Executive Committee and previous President of the International Pick Users Association. Dr Lukaitis was well known for his ability to bring academia industry and the student communities together and is fondly remembered for his enthusiastic participation in many Victorian State Conferences. In 2012 he was deservedly named the Victorian ICT Educator of the Year.

The winner of the Stas Lukaitis, Memorial Prize for 2014 was Ms. Ella Henschke of the School of Business IT and Logistics. Ella was awarded an ACS certificate, a complimentary 12 month ACS membership and a cheque for $1,000. 

Ella proved to be a worthy candidate for the Memorial Award with her long list of achievements.  In 2012, Ella was awarded the NAB Employer of Choice for Women Award as the most outstanding female and first year student in the Bachelor of Information Systems. Ella was also presented as winner of the Scouts Association Work Integrated Learning Report Award. Her report was based on a large IT Project which she undertook within the Wholesale Technology team at NAB.

The ACS congratulates Ella and is proud to welcome her into the profession.

Mrs Leeanne Lukaitis was a guest of honour at the ceremony and the prize was awarded by Mr Andrew Parbury, a long-time colleague of Dr Lukaitis in the Victorian Branch Executive Committee.

ACS congratulates all students on their achievements and welcomes them into the ICT professional community. The ACS looks forward to a long relationship with these young professionals as their careers develop into the future.