Prizes

Academic prizes acknowledge our highest and most consistent achievers. Funding for the prizes comes from our alumni and friends and entities that share our values. We thank them for encouraging our students to continue striving for excellence.

Recipients are nominated by Schools and other groups, as outlined in the criteria documents, and approved by the Learning and Teaching Committee. Winners are announced in November each year and prizes are presented during the end of year graduation ceremonies, and for those not graduating that year, during the ‘Welcome to Avondale’ ceremony at the commencement of the next academic year.

Expand allCollapse all

Faculty Prizes


Humanities & Creative Arts

Adventist Media Digital Media and Journalism Prize
A prize for excellence in journalism worth $1,000, awarded in recognition of excellence in digital media and journalism as demonstrated by academic achievement and publication record. The prize is generously sponsored by Adventist Media. View full criteria

Adventist World Radio Prize in Radio Writing and Public Relations
A prize of $1000, generously sponsored by Adventist World Radio (AWR), in honour of Allen and Andrea Steele. The prize is given in recognition of excellence in Immersive Media and Podcasting with a vision and passion for the innovative use of communication in church mission.View full criteria

Allen & Andrea Steele Huguenot History Prize
A prize of $1000 awarded to a student with a history minor or major, in recognition of outstanding scholarship in History. The prize is generously sponsored by Dr Allen & Mrs Andrea Steele, and from royalties of the book The French Pilot. View full criteria

Alan & Yvonne Thrift Memorial Musical Excellence Prize
This prize, valued at $1000, is awarded to a student in the third or higher year of a Bachelor of Arts, Bachelor of Arts/Bachelor of Business, or Bachelor of Arts/Bachelor of Teaching degree, with a specialization or double major in music. The prize is awarded for involvement and leadership in the musical activities of Avondale, in addition to good academic grades in music units undertaken. This prize honours the work of the late Alan and Yvonne Thrift, who devoted their lives to the development of music at Avondale. Alan was Head of Music from 1957 to 1990 and Yvonne taught piano and voice for over 20 years. View full criteria

Avondale Conservatorium Musicianship Prize
This prize of $500 is awarded in recognition of outstanding achievement in Avondale Conservatorium’s musicianship program. View full criteria

David Clark Harmony and Composition Prize
A prize of $500 is awarded to a student with the best individual grades in Harmony and/or Composition who has completed both musicology and performance units and who is continuing their course in the following academic year. This prize is awarded in honour of David Clark, who made a significant contribution to the music program at Avondale from 1969, first as a music lecturer and later as Head of Music until his retirement in 2005. View full criteria

George Greer Memorial Academic Excellence Prize
A prize of $500 is awarded to a student in the second or higher year of a BA or equivalent degree (including double degrees built on the BA) with a major, specialisation or double major in Music, with an average grade of at least 75% across all music units. It is awarded in recognition of academic excellence in both musicology and performance in the musical activities of the Avondale Conservatorium. It is awarded in memory of George Greer, a much-loved and respected Head of Music at Avondale from 1947 to 1952. View full criteria

Noel Clapham Memorial Performance Prize
A prize of $500 is awarded to a student about to commence the third or higher year of a BA or equivalent degree (including double degrees built on the BA) with a major, specialisation or double major in Music and is awarded primarily on the basis of solo and/or chamber ensemble performance as demonstrated in music units. It is also awarded for music performance excellence in the musical activities of the Avondale Conservatorium. This prize is in memory of Noel Clapham, head of the music department at Avondale from 1952 to 1957. View full criteria

Willobee Floors Bachelor of Arts Excellence Prize
This prize, valued at $1,000, is awarded to a graduating Bachelor of Arts student in recognition of outstanding academic performance and good citizenship. It is generously sponsored by Willobee Floor Service Sales. View full criteria

Nursing

Adventist Aged Care Sydney - Aged Care Excellence Prize
This prize, valued at $1000, is awarded to a student who has demonstrated compassion, respect, patience and dignity through clinical excellence in the care of the aged. View full criteria.

Adventist HealthCare Clinical Excellence Prize in Honour of Alison Hood
A certificate and prize of $500 is awarded to the student graduating with the highest clinical performance profile through the Bachelor of Nursing course. View full criteria.

Adventist HealthCare Critical Care Nursing Excellence Prize
A certificate and prize of $500 is awarded to the Bachelor or Nursing graduate with excellent academic and clinical performance for critical care nursing in selected units. View full criteria.

Adventist HealthCare Maternity Nursing Excellence Prize
A certificate and prize of $500 is awarded to a Bachelor of Nursing graduate with excellent academic and clinical performance for maternity nursing in selected units. View full criteria.

Adventist HealthCare Medical Nursing Excellence Prize in Honour of Dr Alan Gibbons
A certificate and prize of $500 is awarded to the Bachelor of Nursing graduate with the highest academic and clinical performance for medical nursing in selected units. View full criteria.

Adventist HealthCare Surgical Nursing Excellence Prize
A certificate and prize of $500 is awarded to the Bachelor of Nursing graduate with excellent academic and clinical performance for surgical nursing in selected units. View full criteria.

Adventist HealthCare Perioperative Nursing Excellence Prize
A certificate and prize of $500 is awarded to the Bachelor of Nursing graduate with excellent academic and clinical performance for perioperative nursing in selected units. View full criteria.

Brisbane Waters Private Hospital Clinical Practice Excellence Prize
This prize, valued at $500, recognises an excellent consistent performance in nursing practice by a student during clinical placements across the spectrum of nursing fields in the Bachelor of Nursing course. View full criteria.

Winifred Doran Prize for Empathic Communication and Holistic Care
This prize of $500 is awarded to a student who demonstrates empathic communication skills and holistic care in their support of patients, and commitment to Avondale University’s values. View full criteria.

Avondale Seminary

Arthur Ferch Prize for Greek Studies
This prize, valued at $1,000, is awarded to a student studying the unit ‘New Testament Greek’ in either the second year of a BA (Ministry & Theology) or in the first year of a Graduate Diploma in Theology, who scores the highest grade. The prize honours the work of Dr Arthur Ferch, former lecturer in the Avondale Seminary, and is generously sponsored by Dr Carole Ferch-Johnson and family. View full criteria

Arthur Ferch Prize for Hebrew Studies
This prize of $1,000 is awarded to a second year Theology student who scores highest in first semester Hebrew and second semester Old Testament studies where Hebrew is applied. This prize honours the work of Dr Arthur Ferch, who lectured in the Avondale Seminary from 1971 to 1984, and is generously sponsored by Dr Carole Ferch-Johnson and family. View full criteria

Bill Marr Institute of Public Evangelism Prize
This prize of $1,000 is awarded to a Theology student who shows promise in public outreach. It is awarded in recognition of dedication to Christian ministry and a commitment to public evangelism as a prospective career. The prize is generously sponsored by the Institute of Public Evangelism in the South Pacific Division of the Seventh-day Adventist Church and honours the public evangelism work performed by Pr William Marr. View full criteria

Clifford Anderson Ministry Prize
This prize of $1,000 is awarded in recognition of outstanding academic performance and for the demonstration of ministerial potential. It is generously sponsored from the royalties of the book ‘Modern Ways to Health’ and honours the work of Dr Clifford Anderson, who was both a minister of the SDA Church and a medical practitioner of international repute. View full criteria

Douglas Eliot Church Planting/Ministry Memorial Prize
A prize of $1,000, the Douglas Eliot prize was established in 2014 by Dr Elizabeth Ostring to honour her father Mr Douglas Eliot, a former Chief Financial Officer of Avondale University (1966 - 1975). The prize is given in recognition of outstanding performance by a Ministry student in the area of church planting. View full criteria

Edna & Vern Heise Prize for Excellence in Communication
This prize of $1000, sponsored by The Edna & Vern Heise Memorial Trust Fund, is awarded to a female theology who demonstrates excellence in written and/or verbal communication, interpersonal skills and service activities. The prize has been established in honour of the life and work of Edna (died 2006) and Vern (died 2014) Heise in memory of their outstanding support of women in ministry and Christian communication through preaching, writing and speaking. View full criteria

Elwin Currow Prize for New Testament Apocalyptic Studies
A prize of $1000 awarded to the top ranking student in New Testament Apocalyptic studies. This award is offered biennially and is funded from an endowment put in place by the late Elwin Currow, former CEO of Newcastle Hospital, and honors his extensive involvement in the Adventist Church over many years and his support and encouragement of Avondale students to deepen their understanding of apocalyptic literature. View full criteria

Graham Miller Memorial Prize for Youth Ministry
A prize of $1,000 is awarded to a Theology student who shows particular aptitude for youth ministry. It is sponsored by a trust fund setup to honour the outstanding contribution Pr Graham Miller made to the youth in this Division. View full criteria

Education

Barritt Primary Teacher's Literacy Prize
A prize of $500 is generously provided annually by the Barritt family and awarded to the top graduating teaching student in Primary English, to acknowledge excellence in pre-service study. The prize acknowledges the significance of literacy as an essential tool for teaching, mission, communication and the building of family and self-identity. It honours the lives and work of Pr Clive and Mrs Lorna Barritt. View full criteria

Health & Physical Education Prize
This prize has two sponsors: Fit Life Health Club who generously donates a $500 prize, and the Australian Council for Health, Physical Education & Recreation (ACHPER) who provide the winner with a complimentary student membership to their organisation. The prize is awarded to a Health & Physical Education student and acknowledges the positive impact that quality Health & Physical Education teachers have on the well-being of their students. View full criteria

Ministry of Teaching (Early Childhood) Prize
A prize of $1000, generously sponsored by the Education Department of the South Pacific Division of SDA’s, is granted each year to a graduating Early Childhood Education student who has demonstrated a professional approach to teaching and the ability to create a stimulating learning environment for students. View full criteria

Ministry of Teaching (Primary) Prize
This prize of $1000 is generously sponsored by the Education Department of the New Zealand Pacific Union Conference of SDA’s. It is awarded annually to an outstanding Primary Education graduand for demonstrating effort and skill in the preparation of teaching resources and for maintaining relationships with maturity and responsibility. View full criteria

Ministry of Teaching (Secondary) Prize
A prize of $1000 is generously sponsored by the Education Department of the Australian Union Conference of SDA’s. It is awarded to an outstanding Secondary Education graduating student who demonstrates the ability to create an intellectually rewarding learning environment and who presents and models Avondale’s values. View full criteria

Business

Gail Valentine Memorial Prize for Human Resource Management
Valued at $1,000, this prize is generously sponsored by the Valentine family through the Gail Valentine Memorial Association, to honour the life and work of the late Gail Valentine and her contribution to best practice in Human Resource management. The prize is awarded in recognition of excellence in Human Resource Management studies. View full criteria

Professional Advantage Bachelor of Business Prize
A prize of $1,000, generously sponsored by Professional Advantage Pty Ltd, is awarded to a Bachelor of Business student who demonstrates quality and performance in all course subjects, a diligent and positive attitude, professionalism and evidence of good citizenship. View full criteria

Viatek Group Bachelor of Business (Accounting) Prize
This prize, valued at $1,000, is generously sponsored by the Viatek Group. It is awarded in recognition of quality of performance in accounting units, diligence in studies and exemplary citizenship and professionalism. View full criteria

Health and Wellbeing Prizes


John Ballard Trim Health Ministry Prize
This prize, valued at $500, has been setup in honour of Pr John Trim, whose innovative ministry combined a lifelong interest in public relations and a passion for wholistic health and wellbeing. It is offered for outstanding achievement by a student in the study of wholistic health and wellbeing and its application in the community. The prize is generously sponsored by the Trim family. View full criteria

Community Service and Excellence Prizes


Adventist Development & Relief Agency Social Justice Prize
A prize of $500 is awarded in recognition of a student or students possessing a strong academic record and demonstrating personal commitment to social justice, advocacy, good leadership skills and the provision of humanitarian service. The prize is generously sponsored by ADRA Australia. View full criteria

Cross-Cultural Community Engagement Prize
This prize, valued at $500, was established in 2003 as the Overseas Volunteer Service Prize. It is granted each year to a student (or group of students) that has participated in community engagement or a volunteer experience in an exemplary manner and has shown commitment to cross-cultural understanding and collaboration, including strong leadership skills and a commitment to Avondale’s values and ethos. The prize is to encourage, acknowledge, and celebrate the contribution of Avondale University student volunteers, and enhance the “Avondale Experience”. The prize has been sponsored and funded by the late Marion & Cyril Youlden and Anna Rieger.
View full criteria

Avondale Prizes for Excellence
Three prizes of $1,500 each are awarded annually to one male student and one female student from the Lake Macquarie campus, and one student from the Sydney campus. The prizes are granted in recognition of personal initiative, strong leadership qualities, excellent academic performance, Christian qualities and strong social skills. These prizes are generously sponsored by Sanitarium Health Food Co. View full criteria

2023 Winners