University Medal and academic prizes

The University Medal

University Medals are awarded annually at the discretion of the Academic Board (on the nomination of a School Board) to candidates who have completed the requirements of a Bachelor degree with first-class honours and who at all times have demonstrated a very high standard of academic achievement. Current University Medal criteria can be found under the Prizes and Medals Policy – Section 4 – University Medal.

Chancellor’s Medal

Where all PhD examiners comment on the outstanding nature of the thesis of a PhD candidate that they have examined, such a candidate may be eligible to receive special acclamation, known as The Chancellor’s Medal for Outstanding PhD Thesis. The Chancellor’s Medal may be awarded by Southern Cross University Council based on recommendation of The Dean, Graduate Studies and Academic Board. Current Chancellor’s Medal criteria can be found under the Prizes and Medals Policy – Section 5 – Chancellor’s Medal.

Academic prizes

Prizes are a merit-based award, based on specific criteria, which recognise and reward individual students who demonstrate outstanding academic achievement. Prizes are offered by Schools and Campus for continuing and graduating students and are generously supported by private and public donors. If you wish to establish a prize at Southern Cross University, email prizes@scu.edu.au.

See Prizes Frequently Asked Questions for more information about the University Medal, Chancellor’s Medal, and academic prizes.

Gairbraid Scholarship

  • Awarded The Gairbraid Scholarship to the most meritorious male or female school leaver in their first year of a course at Southern Cross University (Coffs Harbour campus), who in their previous year gained their HSC from a Public High School in the Coffs Harbour region.
  • $1000
  • Donated by the Estate of Mrs Edith Maclean

Jim Bloomfield Memorial Prize

  • Awarded The Jim Bloomfield Memorial Prize to the full-time student with the best overall performance in the first year of the Bachelor of Nursing degree at the Coffs Harbour campus as determined by highest Grade Point Average.
  • $500
  • Donated by Rotary Club of Coffs Harbour City

Quota International of Coffs Harbour Prize

  • Awarded The Quota International of Coffs Harbour Prize to a full-time student enrolled at the Coffs Harbour campus of Southern Cross University, who, if of sufficient merit, achieves the most distinguished results in their course of study.  Merit will be determined by Grade Point Average and evidence of an ongoing commitment to community service in the Coffs Harbour area.
  • $1000
  • Donated by Quota International of Coffs Harbour Inc.

Real Estate Institute Prize

  • Awarded the Real Estate Institute Prize for the Coffs Coast Region business student achieving the highest mark in Entrepreneurship and Innovation unit (BUSN3003)
  • $100
  • Donated by the Real Estate Institute of NSW (Coffs Harbour Division)

The Yeates Prize

  • Awarded The Yeates Prize to the full-time student enrolled at the Coffs Harbour campus of Southern Cross University, who, if of sufficient merit, achieves the most distinguished results in the first year of his or her course of study.  Merit will be determined by Grade Point Average.
  • $350
  • Donated by the Estate of Mrs Marnie Yeates

Gnibi Indigenous Community Engagement Prize

  • Awarded The Gnibi Indigenous Community Engagement Prize to the graduating student from a course coordinated by Gnibi.  The student must have demonstrated significant contributions to Indigenous communities.
  • $500
  • Donated by the Gnibi College of Indigenous Australian Peoples

Gnibi Indigenous Support Prize

Gnibi College Prize

ABC North Coast Cultural Diversity Prize

  • Awarded The ABC North Coast Cultural Diversity Prize to the most outstanding graduating student in the Bachelor of Digital Media as determined by the highest grade point average.
  • $200
  • Donated by ABC North Coast

Byron Writers Festival Prize for Bachelor of Arts, majoring in Creative Writing

  • Awarded the Byron Writers Festival Prize for Bachelor of Arts (3007099), majoring in Creative Writing student who has achieved a course grade point average of 5.5 or above
  • 12-month membership to Byron Writers Festival and a 1-day Byron Writers Festival pass
  • Donated by Byron Writers Festival

Chartered Accountants Australia and New Zealand Award for Outstanding Financial Accounting Student

Chartered Accountants Australia and New Zealand Award for Outstanding Management Accounting Student

Chartered Accountants Australia and New Zealand Award for Outstanding Auditing Student

Environmental Defender’s Office — Environmental Law Prize

Far North Coast Law Society Prize

Fred Herron Prize for Mediation

Jack Riley Prize for Commercial Law

Jeremy Buultjens Memorial Prize for Excellence in Economics

  • Awarded the Jeremy Buultjens Memorial Prize for Excellence in Economics to the Faculty of Business, Law and Arts student achieving the highest mark in the unit ECON1001 Economics for Decision Making.
  • $1000
  • Donated by Faculty of Business, Law and Arts

Jones Framing Prize

  • Awarded the Jones Framing Prize for the Student graduating from the Bachelor of Art and Design. Winner to be chosen by the donor after viewing the Graduate Exhibition at Lismore campus.
  • Art framing to the value of $350
  • Donated by Mr Jones Framing

Kaske Memorial Fellowship

  • Awarded The Kaske Memorial Fellowship for outstanding graduate in the Bachelor of Art and Design or Bachelor of Arts (Honours) year. Student must complete a written proposal.
  • $5000
  • Donated by John and Sheilagh Kaske

Kaske Award – First Year Prize

  • Awarded The Kaske Award – First Year Prize for outstanding student in their first year of study in the Bachelor of Art and Design. Selection is based on studio artwork and grades.
  • $500
  • Donated by John and Sheilagh Kaske

Kaske Award – Second Year Prize

  • Awarded The Kaske Award – Second Year Prize for outstanding student in their second year of study in the Bachelor of Art and Design. Selection is based on studio artwork and grades.
  • $500
  • Donated by John and Sheilagh Kaske

Kaske Award – Third Year Prize

  • Awarded The Kaske Award – Third Year Prize for outstanding student in their third year of study in the Bachelor of Art and Design. Selection is based on studio artwork and grades.
  • $2000
  • Donated by John and Sheilagh Kaske

Law Society of New South Wales Excellence in Professional Conduct Award

Meredith Prize

  • Awarded The Meredith Prize to the Faculty of Business, Law and Arts graduating student with the most outstanding doctoral thesis.
  • $2,000 to student and plaque
  • Donated by Emeritus Professor Meredith

Michael Foley Bequest

  • Awarded the Michael Foley Bequest award to a Bachelor of Art and Design Graduand with no more than 1 unit left to complete in their degree. This student has had their final artwork judged as being of an exceptional standard.
  • $1,000
  • Donated by Michael Foley Foundation

National Association for the Visual Arts (NAVA) Ignition Prize

  • Awarded the National Association for the Visual Arts (NAVA) Ignition Prize to the graduating student who has demonstrated the most professional development in their final year. Only available to graduating students exhibiting in the SCU Graduate Exhibition of the year the prize is offered.
  • Gallery Exhibition Space
  • Donated by National Association for the Visual Arts (NAVA)

New South Wales Bar Association Prize

Northern Rivers Community Gallery Prize

  • Awarded the Northern Rivers Community Gallery Prize for the most outstanding exhibited artwork or installation at the Southern Cross University Graduate Exhibition.
  • Exhibited in the gallery or space at Northern Rivers Community Gallery
  • Donated by Northern Rivers Community Gallery

Ray Balzer Prize for Criminal Law

Ross Reid Prize for Conveyancing

Rotary Club of Coffs Harbour Prize

  • Awarded the Rotary Club of Coffs Harbour Prize to the Faculty of Business, Law and Arts undergraduate student who has achieved the highest-grade point average across tourism related units and whose permanent address is within the Coffs Harbour Local Government Area.
    A condition of awarding this prize – the successful student must consent for SCU to share their contact details with the Rotary Club of Coffs Harbour for their invitation to be a speaker at one of our weekly Wednesday evening meetings at the Coffs Surf Club regarding their studies.
  • $1000 to student and Perpetual Trophy presented each year
  • Donated by the Rotary Club of Coffs Harbour Incorporated

Southern Cross University Chancellor’s Art Prize

  • Awarded the Chancellor’s Art Prize to the graduating Art and Design student for an artwork judged to be of the highest artistic merit.
  • $3000
  • Donated by Office of the Chancellor, Southern Cross University

S+P Lawyers Prize

  • Awarded The S+P Walters Solicitors Prize for the most outstanding graduating student in the Bachelor of Laws (Honours), as determined by the highest grade point average.
  • $300
  • Donated by S+P Lawyers

TNR Chartered Accountants Prize for Business and Accounting Excellence

Tony Pagotto Prize for Law Placement

UniSuper Prize (Superannuation and Retirement Planning)

UniSuper Prize (Principles of Financial Planning)

UniSuper Prize (Estate Planning)

VERGE Graduate Art Award

  • Awarded the VERGE Graduate Art Award to the Graduand of the Bachelor of Art and Design student with the most outstanding exhibited artwork or installation at the Southern Cross University Graduate Exhibition.
  • $500 to student
  • Donated by Lismore Regional Gallery

WCA Prize for Financial Accounting

The Bishop Druitt College Arts Education Prize

The Bishop Druitt College STEM Education Prize

The Bishop Druitt College Wellbeing Education Prize

Byron Writers Festival Prize for Associate Degree of Creative Writing

  • Awarded the Byron Writers Festival Prize for Associate Degree of Creative Writing to the graduating student who achieved a course grade point average of 5.5 or above.
  • Membership and a 1-day pass for the festival
  • Donated by Byron Writers Festival

The Early Childhood Outstanding Student of the Year

  • Awarded the Early Childhood Outstanding Student of the Year to the graduating early childhood education undergraduate student who has attained the highest course grade point average combined with an excellent professional experience report.
  • Early Childhood Australia membership
  • Donated by Early Childhood Australia (NSW) North Coast

The Lord's Taverners Northern NSW Buttrum-Whitelaw Memorial prize

The Lord's Taverners Northern NSW award for commitment to community welfare

  •  Awarded to the student who has demonstrated outstanding commitment to working with the disadvantaged or vulnerable while undertaking placement, as determined by Director of Field Education and Course Coordinator for the Bachelor of Social Work, Bachelor of Community Welfare, Master of Social Work.
  • $250
  • Donated by Lord’s Taverners Northern NSW

The Primary English Teaching Association Australia English Excellence Award

Jetty Dive Centre Prize for Academic Excellence in Marine Science and Management

  • Graduating student with the highest grade point average in the Bachelor of Science (Marine Systems) (3007291 or 3007004), the Bachelor of Marine Science and Management (3007157) or the combined Bachelor of Science/Bachelor of Marine Science and Manage (3207274) courses with a GPA of 6.5 or above.
  • $$250 Diving/ Snorkelling Voucher
  • Donated by Jetty Dive Centre

Lismore City Council Mayoral Prize for an Integrated Project topic relevant to Lismore City Council

  • Awarded The Lismore City Council Mayoral Prize for an Integrated Project topic relevant to Lismore City Council to the student who achieves the highest percentage mark and grade of D or HD in SCIN3004 Integrated Project on a topic relevant to Lismore City Council
  • $1000
  • Donated by Lismore City Council

Lismore City Council Mayoral Prize for Waste Related Studies

Prospectors Supplies Pty Ltd Prize

Faculty of Science and Engineering Prize for Excellence

  • Awarded The Faculty of Science and Engineering Prize for Excellence to the graduating student with highest course GPA in 3007291 or 3007004 Bachelor of Science, 3508001 Bachelor of Engineering Systems (Honours), 3002111 Bachelor of Information Technology, 3004101 Bachelor of Forest Science and Management, 3004100 Bachelor of Environmental Science, 3007157 Bachelor of Marine Science and Management or the combined 3207274 Bachelor of Environmental Science/Bachelor of Marine Science and Management courses.
  • $250
  • Donated by the Faculty of Science and Engineering

Steel Reinforcement Institute of Australia (SRIA) Award for Excellence in Reinforced Concrete Design

The Australian Computer Society Medal

  • Awarded The Australian Computer Society Medal to the graduating student for highest academic achievement over the entire ACS-accredited Bachelor of Information Technology (3002111). Student must consent to the use of their non-private details (name, biography, university, image to be used by ACS QLD Branch in media initiatives.
  • $1000 to student and Medallion
  • Donated by Australian Computer Society

The Brushett Chemistry Prize

The Reichelt-Brushett Prize for Excellence in Aquatic Pollution Studies

Australian Podiatry Association Graduate Prize

  • Awarded the Australian Podiatry Association Graduate Prize to the graduating student from the Bachelor of Podiatry (3007308) with the highest academic achievement grade point average calculated over the entire course.
  • $450 APA Professional Development voucher.
  • Donated by The Australian Podiatry Association

Australian Psychological Society Limited (APS) Prize

  • Awarded The Australian Psychological Society Limited (APS) Prize to the graduating student from Bachelor of Psychological Science with Honours (3507245) who achieved the highest overall performance in the degree.
  • 12 months Student or Associate Membership of the APS and an invitation to present a poster at the APS Congress.
  • Donated by The Australian Psychological Society Ltd

Darrel Chapman Memorial Prize

  • Awarded The Darrell Chapman Memorial Prize to the graduating student in the Bachelor of Sport and Exercise Science (3005113) with the highest grade point average calculated over the whole course.
  • $150
  • Donated by the Faculty of Health

Harry Shand Memorial Prize

  • Awarded The Harry Shand Memorial Prize to the Bachelor of Nursing (3005105) graduate with an interest in Community Health Nursing as well as high academic performance over the duration of the course.
  • $300
  • Donated by the Far North Division, Australian Dental Association, NSW Branch

Occupational Therapy Australia Prize for Academic Excellence

  • Awarded the Occupational Therapy Australia Prize for Academic Excellence to the graduating student in the Bachelor of Occupational Therapy (3007224) who achieved the highest overall course grade point average.
  • Occupational Therapy Australia 12 Month New Graduate Membership (valued at $357)
  • Donated by Occupational Therapy Australia QLD Division

Osteopathy Australia Prize for the Graduate Osteopath of the Year

  • Awarded the Osteopathy Australia Prize for the Graduate Osteopath of the Year to the graduating student from the Master of Osteopathic Medicine (1207235) with the highest involvement in professional activities and success in their studies.
  • $500 cash prize and up to 18 months free membership of Osteopathy Australia once registered with AHPRA.
  • Donated by Osteopathy Australia

Positive Student Engagement Award

  • Awarded the Positive Student Engagement Award to the student who has contributed positively to the student culture of the SCU osteopathic program.
  • $500
  • Donated by Flexeze

Speech Pathology Australia Prize

  • Awarded the Speech Pathology Australia Prize to the graduating Bachelor of Speech Pathology (3007306) student with outstanding academic achievement and/or excellent clinical achievement throughout the course with demonstrated community engagement.
  • 12 months Ordinary member/practising membership
  • Donated by Speech Pathology Australia