Michael Song, a final year petroleum engineering student at Curtin University, Perth, Australia, and 2016 president of the Curtin University SPE chapter won the Orica Mining, Oil, and Gas Award in the GradConnection’s Top 100 Future Leaders competition. GradConnection is a recruitment platform that links students and graduates to employment opportunities.
On winning the award, Song said on the GradConnection website, “I am an individual who strives toward excellence in all aspects of my life. Within my studies I have demonstrated excellence through receipt of the Society of Petroleum Engineers (SPE) Western Australia Scholarship in 2015 and selection to represent the Science & Engineering Department at Curtin University on a short exchange program in Germany earlier this year. This experience allowed me to develop an appreciation for diversity, an insight into the European lifestyle, and professional practices and the ability to overcome language and cultural barriers to communicate effectively. Outside of my studies, I have held numerous executive positions in the SPE chapter at Curtin University over the past 3 years. … . Through my involvement with the chapter I have proved my leadership capabilities and believe I will continue to do so when I enter the mining, oil, and gas industry in the future.”
Each February, GradConnection partners with Future Graduate Consultancy to conduct the Top 100 Graduate Employers and Future Leaders competition in Australia. According to the company’s website, the purpose of the award is to bring major stakeholders of Australia’s graduate recruitment industry together. Students who are in their final year of study looking to make their first career move apply for the Future Leaders award. The top 100 finalists are flown from around the country to the National Assessment Center. Employer sponsors have the freedom to choose the reward for their winners and finalists in their category. Prizes in past years have included graduate program positions, internship opportunities, mentoring program, and even an overseas trip. The Top 100 Graduate Employers are the most popular employers identified by counting the number of unique final year students from Australian universities that applied to them.