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Academic prize recipients revealed for 2021
One of our top academic prize recipients is already at work—and loving it. Lauren Speirs completed a professional experience placement at Tweed Valley Adventist College early in the year and continued on. The arts and teaching student planned her degree so she would be free in her final year because “I wanted to get into the classroom as soon as possible.”
Lauren majored in English and Modern History and feels her gift is connecting with students. “I love building relationships. I see it as my spiritual mission.” She has just accepted a young adult leadership position at her local church to help students outside of class. “I want to be the spiritual mentor I didn’t have at their age.”
Her advice to other students beginning their course of study? “Seek out help early. What I love about Avondale is the small school approach with big school intelligence levels. I had firsthand access to incredible lecturers who knew me by name and could quickly respond to my emails to give me the help I needed.”
Classmate Tyler Hobson is also an Avondale Prize for Excellence recipient and is also teaching at Tweed. He remembers feeling “really anxious” before his first placement. “I said to God, ‘You’ve called me to the ministry of teaching but I’m not sure it’s for me.’ After the first lesson, though, I felt at peace.” A “full on but powerful” Ministry of Teaching Overseas trip to Tonga helped bring confidence.
His advice to other students is to “say ‘yes’ to good experiences and surround yourself with positive people. Your lecturers and older students can provide great mentorship.”
The third recipient of our top prize is Tahleana Bula. While the Avondale Nursing Student Association president found learning by distance mode in lockdown a challenge, “I made a lot of friends and we keep each other in check.” Support from her local church helps, too. “It’s like I’ve found a new family.”
Tahleana will return home to Queensland to complete a new graduate program at Gold Coast University Hospital next year. Lauren will continue teaching at Tweed. And Tyler, who also received the Health and Physical Education Prize, will coordinate the sports program and teach physical education at Christchurch Adventist School in New Zealand.
In addition to Tyler, other students receiving multiple prizes this year are Alana Macgillivray, Jai Rubessa and Emily Shield. An arts and teaching student, Alana’s prizes are for getting the top marks in Greek and Hebrew. Jai got the top prizes in business and in accounting. Music specialist Emily Shield’s prizes are from Avondale Conservatorium and recognise her academic excellence and her skills in harmony and composition.
See the full list of recipients below.
Academic Prize Recipients 2021
Avondale University
Avondale Prize for Excellence, Lake Macquarie campus
Tyler Hobson ($1500)
Lauren Speirs ($1500)
Avondale Prize for Excellence, Sydney campus
Tahleana Bula ($1500)
School of Arts and Business
Adventist World Radio Prize in Radio Writing and Public Relations
Jacinda Ralph and Heather Rielly ($500 each)
Allen and Andrea Steele Huguenot History Prize
Danielle Vella ($1000)
Avondale Conservatorium David Clark Harmony and Composition Prize
Emily Shield ($500)
Avondale Conservatorium George Greer Memorial Academic Excellence Prize
Emily Shield ($500)
Avondale Conservatorium Noel Clapham Memorial Performance Prize
John Alley ($500)
Gail Valentine Memorial Prize for Human Resource Management
Sophie-Lee Johnson ($1000)
Professional Advantage Bachelor of Business Prize
Jai Rubessa ($1000)
Viatek/Fuji Xerox Bachelor of Business (Accounting) Prize
Jai Rubessa ($1000)
W A Townend Christian Journalism Prize
Bailee McLeod ($500)
Willobee Floors Bachelor of Arts Excellence Prize
Stephanie Barber ($1000)
School of Education and Science
Barritt Primary Teacher’s Literacy Prize
Amber Henderson ($500)
Health and Physical Education Prize
Tyler Hobson ($500 plus one-year Australian Council for Health, Physical Education and Recreation membership)
Magnusson, Draper and Thomson Science Prize
Nic Ansell ($1000)
Ministry of Teaching (Early Childhood) Prize
Tahla Leyshon ($1000)
Ministry of Teaching (Primary) Prize
Kristan Wigglesworth ($1000)
Ministry of Teaching (Secondary) Prize
Laura-Jane McLarty ($1000)
School of Ministry and Theology
Arthur Ferch Prize for Greek Studies
Alana Macgillivray ($1000)
Arthur Ferch Prize for Hebrew Studies
Alana Macgillivray and Katie Woodward ($1000)
Bill Marr Institute of Public Evangelism Prize
Apelu Tanuvasa ($1000)
Clifford Anderson Ministry Prize
Rebecca Cheers, Jayden Croft and Sharee Patrick ($1000 each)
Douglas Eliot Church Planting/Ministry Memorial Prize
Michael Dawson ($1000)
Edna and Vern Heise Prize for Excellence in Communication
Kira-Leigh Josey ($1000)
Elwin Currow Prize for New Testament Apocalyptic Studies
Christopher Petersen ($1000)
Graham Miller Memorial Prize for Youth Ministry
Renee Vaovasa ($1000)
School of Nursing and Health
Adventist Aged Care Sydney Aged Care Excellence Prize
Alicia Euw ($1000)
Brisbane Waters Private Hospital Clinical Practice Excellence Prize
Justine Birkett ($500)
Sydney Adventist Hospital Academic Excellence Prize
Keren Gescheit ($500)
Sydney Adventist Hospital Clinical Excellence Prize
Natalie Turley ($500)
Sydney Adventist Hospital Medical Nursing Excellence Prize
Yvonne Jonker ($250)
Sydney Adventist Hospital Mental Health Nursing Excellence Prize
Jerad Kew ($250)
Sydney Adventist Hospital Surgical Nursing Excellence Prize
Jennifer Ikpo ($250)
Sydney Adventist Hospital Prize for Consistent Effort and Accomplishment
Alisa Cooper ($250)
Other
Cross-Cultural Community Engagement Prize
Roger Afele ($500)
John Ballard Trim Health Ministry Prize
Urijah Liligeto ($500)