12 December 2008

It will be a case of two student valedictorians at the same University of Queensland ceremony when Tom Gole and Kavita Paw graduate on Monday.

Mr Gole, of Sherwood, was selected as the Valedictorian for Law and Economics graduates at the 2pm ceremony, based on his Grade Point Average.

Coincidentally, Ms Paw, of Calamvale, has been elected as the second semester Law Valedictorian by fellow students.

The ceremony at the UQ Centre, Union Road, St Lucia, is one of three being held on Monday by the UQ Faculty of Business, Economics and Law.

The young couple will both graduate with dual degrees - she will receive a Bachelor of Commerce/Bachelor of Laws, while he will be awarded a Bachelor of Economics (first class honours)/Bachelor of Laws. Due to their high Grade Point Averages, both also will receive first class honours in Laws.

Both have also received numerous prizes during their degrees.

Mr Gole was awarded a Deans Commendation during every semester of his degrees, as well as the Archibald Scholarship and the Department of Employment and Workplace Relations Prize for Advanced Econometrics in 2007, the Allens Arthur Robinson Law Prize for Overall Excellence in 2005 and the Australian Finance Conference Prize in Economics in 2004.

Ms Paw received a Deans Commendation every semester except for one during her degrees and the Beryl Donkin Memorial Prize in 2006 from the Queensland Law Society.

Mr Gole and Ms Paw met while at high school and have both been active members of the University of Queensland Law and Debating Societies.

Next year, Mr Gole will take up a role with a Sydney options trading
firm, with a longer term ambition to undertake a PhD in Economics, while Ms Paw has accepted a position with Allens Arthur Robinson in Brisbane.

Media: Jan King 07 3365 1120