Awards & Prizes

Awards & Prizes

Student Opportunities

Awards & Prizes

College Medal

The award of the College Medal is determined by the Academic Board and recognises the achievement of outstanding academic results throughout a Bachelor of Arts in the Liberal Arts student’s program of study. The College Medal is awarded to the graduand(s) meeting the below criteria with the highest average mark.

To be eligible for consideration, a graduand must:

  • be graduating from the Campion College Bachelor of Arts in the Liberal Arts;
  • have completed at least two thirds of the units of study required for the course as a student enrolled at Campion College;
  • have completed the final semester at Campion College (i.e. not as study abroad); and have an average mark across all units of study studied of at least 85;
  • have demonstrated that they possess the Campion College graduate attributes.

  • 2022: Gareth Cassidy
  • 2021: Sophia Shogren
  • 2020: Johanna Ryan
  • 2019: Brianna McKee
  • 2018: Laura Ryan
  • 2017: Jessica Buchanan
  • 2016: Nicholas Augimeri
  • 2015: Jean Seah and Christian Bergmann
  • 2014: Mark Makowiecki and Robert van Gend
  • 2013: Dylan Littler
  • 2012: Anna Hitchings and Keziah Doughty
  • 2011: Siobhan Reeves
  • 2010: Natasha Marsh
  • 2009: Laura Meli and Ivy Del Rosario
  • 2008: Olivia Meese

 

Frank Sheed Public Speaking Competition

The Frank Sheed Public Speaking Prize at Campion College is named in honour of the renowned Australian Catholic layman, author and publisher Frank Sheed (1897–1981), who honed his craft through the Catholic Evidence Guild’s open-air preaching. Sheed’s lifelong commitment to Catholic apologetics and intellectual engagement – expressed through public speaking, publishing, and evangelisation – continues to inspire this annual prize, which encourages students to develop the same clarity, courage and conviction in public discourse.

Each competitor delivers an original speech that seeks to persuade the audience to a point of view and prompt action. A panel of three judges will score the contestants.

Goal of speech:

  • A speech that persuades the audience to take action.
  • In addition to persuading the audience of your position, the speech must include a call to action.

Topic:

  • Contestants are to choose their own topic. Light-hearted topics as well as serious topics are suitable.

Tips on topic:

  • We recommend students pick a topic on something they care about or of which they have personal knowledge. Doing so will make it more likely passion and persuasion are brought to bear on the delivery and make it more likely to move the audience. Creative and original topics are encouraged.
  • You may consider it useful to employ a structure that narrows the topic into a concrete, winnable claim, and end by asking the audience to do one specific actionable thing.

Audience:

  • The competitor must make it clear by words or actions in the speech who the audience is; the judges will be listening for this. The competitor may choose to target their speech to the audience at hand or may target the speech at a theoretical audience.

Timing:

  • Timing 4-8 minutes for each speaker.
  • Each speaker must speak for at least 4 minutes.
  • Time warning will be given at 6 minutes
  • Final warning at 8 minutes. (disqualified after 8.5 minutes)

Delivery:

  • You will be judged on logical and emotional persuasion as well as the quality of delivery.
  • Speakers may use palm cards or a single page with key points, but should not use a script. Use of phone for notes is not allowed.
  • Speakers may use a lectern and microphone if provided, but are also encouraged to move freely and own the space.

Consider:

  • Consider how your speech satisfies the following areas:
    • strength of the argument including relevant evidence
    • delivery (voice, pace, body language)
    • connection with audience
    • technical requirements covered elsewhere above

  • 2024: Colin Shah
  • 2023: Matthew Selbst
  • 2022: Gareth Cassidy
  • 2019: Pearce Lyall
  • 2018: Elizabeth Phillips
  • 2017: Joseph Yeo
  • 2016: Nicholas Augimeri
  • 2015: Nicholas Augimeri
  • 2014: Robert van Gend
  • 2013: Evelyn Ballard
  • 2012: Robert van Gend
  • 2011: Keziah Doughty
  • 2010: David Chilnicean
  • 2009: Alec Hobbs

 

Ted O’Halloran Latin Prize

The Ted O’Halloran Latin Prize is awarded annually to the best student in Latin in a 300-level unit. The prize, kindly donated by John O’Halloran and Michael Gray, is named in memory of John’s father Mr Ted O’Halloran.

Edmund Alfred (Ted) O’Halloran KSS (1917-2005) was born in Temora, NSW, but lived most of his life in Sydney, except when on active service in the RAAF during World War II. After graduating with a degree in Laws from the University of Sydney, he became in time a distinguished solicitor and public company director. Throughout his life he highly esteemed the value of a liberal arts education, and was an active supporter of Campion College from its inception.

 

Noreen Mavis Daley Poetry Prize

The Noreen Mavis Daley Poetry Prize is endowed by the late Royston Porthouse in memory of his mother.

The Noreen Mavis Daley Poetry Prize is open to all students formally enrolled in a Campion College degree or subject. The Prize will be awarded to an original, unpublished poem not exceeding 50 lines. There are no generic or thematic constraints.

  • Entries will not be under offer to any publication, or offered for publication, until the adjudication is finalised and the winner is notified.
  • The prize will normally be awarded to a single poem/poet, with up to two highly-commended entries notified. The winner is notified personally and will be presented with a prize of $250 at the ‘Reveillon” dinner that ends the academic year. There are no prizes for the highly commended entries.
  • Only one entry (poem) is permitted per person.
  • Entries should be printed, one side only, on A4 paper. Entries are assessed in their original forms only. No subsequent revision or resubmission is permitted.
  • Personal details should not appear on any manuscript to ensure discretion and fair dealing. Please supply full details as required on the separate Entry Form.
  • Manuscripts will not be returned.
  • The College and Trustees of this prize accept no liability for loss of or damage to manuscripts.
  • The decision of the judging panel is final. No subsequent correspondence will be entered into.
  • The judge/s reserve the right not to award the prize in any given year.
  • The College reserves the right to publish the winning poem and any of the highly recommended entries on its website and in any College publication, such as its regular newsletter Campion’s Brag.

  • 2022: Dougal Sinclair
  • 2021: Deon Robleh Testore
  • 2020: Lucy Margaret-Mary Smith
  • 2019: Gareth Cassidy
  • 2018: Lucy Smith
  • 2017: Therese Horsfall
  • 2016: Jonathan Grace
  • 2015: Jean Seah
  • 2014: Elyse Burns
  • 2013: Therese Schaeffer
  • 2012: Elyse Burns
  • 2011: Siobhan Reeves
  • 2010: Siobhan Reeves and Joseph Swanson
  • 2009: Siobhan Reeves