Student Excellence Awards

You can self-nominate or nominate a student by completing the nomination form found above. The form must be complete and submitted before the closing date.

Any Southern Cross University staff member or student.

All nominees must be an enrolled Southern Cross University student, or on approved leave of absence, for at least one teaching period in 2023. Nominees can be enrolled full-time or part-time and can be from any academic cohort, such as undergraduate or postgraduate.

You can only self-nominate once, however, you can be nominated multiple times by staff and/or students.

Nominations need to articulate how the student is eligible for a Student Excellence Award. Nominations must include the following information.

Staff nominating a student:

1. Endorsement of the nomination, including evidence of the achievements/reasons for the nomination (approx. 300 - 500 words)
2. Supporting documentation e.g., photos, social media posts, media coverage, testimonials, videos etc.

Students nominating another student:

1. Endorsement of the nomination, including evidence of the achievements/reasons for the nomination (approx. 300 - 500 words)
2. Supporting documentation e.g., photos, social media posts, media coverage, testimonials, videos etc.

Self-nomination:

1. Description of the nomination, including evidence of the achievements/reasons for the self-nomination (approx. 300 - 500 words)
2. Supporting documentation e.g., photos, social media posts, media coverage, testimonials, videos etc.
3. Letter of support for the nomination on a letterhead from an individual or organisation that the nominee has been involved with, for example, an SCU staff member, stakeholder, community organisation, club or group.

4. Award criteria

Student Excellence Awards will be granted in recognition of a student who has demonstrated excellence and impact through a significant contribution to enhancing the student experience, fostering positive change or engagement with communities leading to lasting impact. Please address in your nomination how you meet some or all of the below indicators of excellence.

Outstanding Leadership

Evidence of outstanding leadership of a club or society, or other significant student focused leadership activity either individually, managing a team or as part of a program run by the University.

Community Engagement 

• Supporting community in times of crisis.
• Significant contribution to the enhancement of relations between Southern Cross University and the wider community.
• Significant work in a volunteer or paid capacity leading to positive social change or community advancement.

SCU Engagement

• Significant positive contribution and/or impact to the campus culture and life of Southern Cross University (e.g., through the UniMentor, Peer Assisted Learning (PALS), Orientation and Events, and Ambassador programs).
• Evidence of outstanding leadership and/or contribution to sporting life at SCU, either individual or team (e.g., playing, coaching, supporting, volunteering, team management).

Awards and Recognitions

• Evidence of recognition for your work in co-curricular, sporting, art, literature etc. at SCU, state level or national level.

Nomination closing date: The closing date for nominations is 11.59pm on Tuesday 3 October, 2023. No late entries will be accepted. Incomplete nominations will not be accepted.

Read the Student Excellence Awards check list and tip sheet. This will assist in highlighting what points to include and then help in the drafting of the nomination.

Each winner receives $500 and acknowledgement of their win on their Australian Higher Education Graduation Statement and a framed certificate presented at the award presentation on Thurs 30 November at the Lismore campus.

Student of the Year receives $1000, a trophy and acknowledgement of their win on their Australian Higher Education Graduation Statement.

The selection panel will determine how many awards are awarded using the judging criteria. Of these students, one is awarded the Student of the Year.

The Student Excellence Awards selection panel is made up of SCU staff who have been selected for their knowledge and expertise.

At the Student Excellence Awards presentation on Thursday 30 November 2023.

In October 2023, all nominees are notified of the outcome of their nomination by email and the award finalists will be invited to attend the awards presentation.