Computer scientist is UQ Graduate of the Year

The University of Queensland's Graduate of the Year believes she excelled at University study because she enjoyed her information technology subjects so much.

"It makes it easier to perform well if you like what you're doing," Karen Henricksen said.

Ms Henricksen, currently a PhD student in the Department of Computer Science and Electrical Engineering and also the CRC for Enterprise Distributed Systems at UQ St Lucia, is only the second recipient of the Graduate of the Year Award.

Last year the University's Alumni Association initiated the award for the University medallist with the highest Grade Point Average.

Adrian Seet, a first class UQ honours graduate in engineering and arts, now studying at Stanford University, was the inaugural winner.

This year's Graduate of the Year, Ms Henricksen, graduated Bachelor of Information Technology with first class honours and a grade point average of 6.96 out of a possible 7.

She achieved almost perfect scores throughout her University career, earning Dean's Commendations, and winning the MIM Holdings Limited Prize in Computer Science last year.

This year she was offered the choice of an Australian Postgraduate Award or a University of Queensland Postgraduate Research Scholarship to undertake her PhD, which follows on from her honours study on mobile computing.

Indooroopilly-based Ms Henricksen is following the lead set by her father, Ray Lockett, who also works in the computer industry. Although she specialised in mathematics while a student at Brigidine College, she began writing computer programs in high school and thought IT studies would lead to better job prospects.

Her husband, Matthew, who graduated Bachelor of Information Technology in 1995 at UQ, highly recommended the course to her.

"I looked around but I couldn't go past The University of Queensland because it had the best reputation for teaching and research," she said.

Her PhD studies will be supervised by Dr Jaga Indulska of the University's Computer Science and Electrical Engineering Department and Dr Andry Rakotonirainy of the CRC for Enterprise Distributed Systems Technology

Dr Indulska said Ms Henricksen was a "brilliant, independent student with high ability for critical analysis and innovation. In my opinion, she is an exceptional candidate for a PhD," she said.

Ms Henricksen will receive her award at the August 29 ceremony at Mayne Hall, St Lucia at 6pm.

Media: Further information, Karen Henricksen, telephone 3365 4310 or Jan King at UQ Communications 0413 601 248.

Enquiries can also be directed to communications@mailbox.uq.edu.au