Swinburne students bring home two Beta Alpha Psi award wins

Beta Alpha Psi (BAP) is a prestigious international honour organisation with chapters around the world, including Swinburne’s Xi Sigma Chapter.

Organisation members are high-achieving students and professionals from Accounting, Finance and Business Information Systems.

The 2024 Beta Alpha Psi Annual Meeting was held in Orlando, Florida, and the theme was ‘Embracing Innovation. Empowering Professionals.’

Students Jacinta Lidonni, Chi Kiet Vong, Samuel Ellis, Cuong Huynh and Liam Hughes from the Xi Sigma Executive Team and Dr John Webster represented Swinburne at the three-day conference. Napat Kijtaninwon, another student team member, also played a pivotal role in the team's success. 

Students engaged in professional development events, listened to industry-leading keynote speakers and had the chance to connect with over 800 students and industry partners.

Swinburne students received first-place wins in the Beta Alpha Psi Inclusive Leadership Award and Project Run With It competition.

“These accolades and experiences highlight the incredible success and uniqueness of our chapter. We are immensely grateful for the continued commitment to our growth and achievements,” said Jacinta Lidonni, Student President of the Xi Sigma Chapter.

Inclusive Leadership Award

The Beta Alpha Psi Inclusive Leadership Award underscores the importance of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) in today’s professional landscape. It is sponsored by EY (Ernst & Young) to the value of $2.5K USD.

Swinburne’s Xi Sigma chapter produced a comprehensive report detailing their DEI initiatives, which won first prize in the initial round and then overall first place at the International annual meeting.

“At Xi Sigma, we are committed to promoting these values and equipping our members with the skills needed to thrive in diverse and inclusive environments,” Jacinta said.

“This recognition reflects our dedication to cultivating inclusive leadership and preparing our members for global careers where these skills are increasingly vital.”

Project Run With It

Swinburne Business and Law student, Samuel Ellis’s team won first place in the 'Project Run With It' competition.

The competition brings together students from over 70 schools in teams and challenges them to devise solutions to real-world problems that not-for-profit organisations face.

Samuel's team tackled the Salvation Army’s lack of young volunteers by overhauling and redeveloping their existing app, focusing on gamifying various volunteer services to make them more engaging and exciting.

The approach brought a fresh perspective to the organisation and highlighted the significant impact of creative problem-solving and practical application.

"It was an amazing experience. I am incredibly grateful towards Beta Alpha Psi for not only providing the opportunity to gain some real-life experience but to also work with such an amazing organisation,” Samuel said.

“I have gained a newfound appreciation for the work that The Salvation Army does. To be in a room filled with so many brilliant and driven scholars was a moment I will never forget."