Graduate scoops national award

A Monash graduate beat more than 1000 students across Australia to be named the National Tertiary Business Person of the Year.

Mr Owen Cope, an economics and commerce graduate, received the award for his contribution during the Young Achievement Australia program, which invites secondary and tertiary students to create and run a business.

With a group of other Monash students, Mr Cope gained valuable experience setting up a company, raising revenue and producing and selling a product.

"As a group, we selected a company name, elected members as directors of the group and decided on a product - a dog poop scoop called K9 Clean-Up," he said.

"While we didn't make any profit on the K9 Clean-Up, we were able to cover the costs and break even."

Mr Cope will take up a position as a business analyst with Accenture, an international consulting firm, later this month.

Mr Owen Cope with the K9 Clean-Up.