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Computer science graduate Michael Martis, has received this year’s 1962 Prize - a coveted computer science industry award for the best undergraduate student in Western Australia. The award and the $1,000 prize were announced at the Australian Computer Society’s Dennis Moore Oration Dinner at UWA’s Winthrop Hall on 21 October 2015. Dennis Moore is the father-figure of computing in Western Australia.

“It is extremely pleasing whenever graduates are recognised in the community for hard work and passion in their fields,” said Chair of Teaching and Learning in the Computer Science and Software Engineering (CSSE) School, Dr Chris McDonald.

“Michael’s passion will stand him in great stead for the rest of his career, he has an exciting future!” said Dr McDonald.

Michael is working in Sydney for Google as a Software Engineer. He is following a growing number of CSSE graduates working in multinational high-tech companies. The award was accepted by Michael’s father, Joseph, who read an acceptance speech on his son’s behalf.

“It is a true privilege to accept this prize. This honour would not be possible without Mr. Dennis Moore and the ACS for their development and sponsorship of the award, my family, particularly my mother and father, for their unwavering support and love, and the vibrant community of information and communications technology students in Western Australia whose brilliance and spirit has profoundly enriched my education,” said Michael.

Michael graduated in 2014 from UWA with an honours degree in Computer and Mathematical Science. His honours topic was on finite state machines supervised by Professor Gordon Royle. Michael’s achievements include an impressive list of prizes in computer science related competitions since 2011.

The ACS event is held each year with a distinguished speaker on a topic supported by leading edge research. ACS is the association for Australia’s information and communications technology (ICT) profession, representing all ICT practitioners in business, government and education.

Pictured Joseph Martis (right) accepts ACS 1962 Prize from Dennis Moore AM

Media references

Mary Schultz (Faculty of Engineering, Computing and Mathematics) (+61 8) 6488 1868