The inaugural Ray Finlayson Medal for Leadership and Academic Excellence was awarded to mining engineering student Samson Pastor for his outstanding achievement in the field of Academic Excellence. Mr Pastor was recognised for being in the top one per cent of students at Curtin WA School of Mines in 2012.
The award is sponsored by the Kalgoorlie School of Mines Scholarship Trust in honour of Ray Finlayson, and was initiated by Mr Finlayson’s daughter Leonie Hicks with the intention of perpetuating opportunities to study alongside working mining operations.
Mr Pastor described the medal as the “greatest moment I’ve had whilst at WASM” and appreciated “receiving the award at the 2014 Diggers & Dealers Mining Forum in Kalgoorlie and being given the opportunity to engage industry at that level”.
