The AUT Business School Award ceremony

15 Jun, 2009
 
The AUT Business School Award ceremony

She took home the ANZ Award for top graduating student in SIFE (Students in Free Enterprise); the 360 Marketing Award for the top Maori graduate in the Bachelor of Business; and the Consortium Award for top overall graduate in the Bachelor of Business.

Dean of the Faculty of Business and Law Professor Des Graydon says Black, of Ngati Whatua descent, is one of the school’s highest achieving students ever.

“We have more than 6,000 students enrolled  business at AUT and standing out at this level requires commitment, grit and determination,” he says.

“Xavier has consistently achieved an A average across all her papers throughout her degree, where she majored in marketing. She represents the best of the best and it’s an honour to have her at our Business School.”

Black is currently completing her Master of Business degree studying management, marketing and sustainability, specialising in corporate social responsibility.

The Central Aucklander says AUT’s unique face-to-face teaching style is pivotal to her learning success.

“The small classrooms and personal interaction with lecturers has enabled me to learn from their experiences,” she says.

“My lecturers and the dynamic papers were invaluable in constantly challenging my understanding of the meaning of business and the role it plays in society.”

The AUT Business School Awards acknowledge AUT’s highest achieving students and celebrate New Zealand academic excellence, says Professor Graydon.

“Our best and brightest business students are being honoured tonight for their excellence in endeavour, learning and academic success,” he says. “These are the people who will be instrumental in shaping New Zealand’s future.”

Previous award-winner of six academic awards, Kelly Lee, took home two awards: The Carat New Zealand Award for the top graduate BBus majoring in Advertising; and the Pacific Business Trust Award for the top Pasifika graduate in the Bachelor of Business.

Liya Yan also collected two awards: the CCH Award for the top graduate in the MBus majoring in Taxation; and the Lexis Nexis Award for the top overall graduate in the Master of Business.

In an AUT Business School award first, one award saw two recipients take the stage, both of whom gained exactly the same final end result. Tania Ang and Barbara May were joint recipients of the IAS New Zealand Award for the top graduate in the MBus majoring in Manangement.

Notes for Editors:

For more information about AUT University and its programmes, please visit: www.autuni.ac.nz

For a JPEG of Xavier Black, please contact:

Belinda Nash | Communications Manager | AUT University 
Phone | +64 9 921 9911 | Mobile | +64 21 303 480 
Email | belinda.nash@aut.ac.nz | Web | www.aut.ac.nz

For more information please contact : Belinda Nash