Your gift at work
UniSA would like to acknowledge some of the many donations we receive from corporate and individual donors as these generous gifts support our students whilst they are studying and allow unique programs to be established.
- Constance Gordon-Johnson Prize for Sculpture and Installation
- Zero Waste SA Pam Keating Memorial Scholarship
- Pank family awards
- Cowan grants
- Scholarship recipients share their thoughts
Constance Gordon-Johnson Prize for Sculpture and Installation
The winner of the Constance Gordon-Johnson Prize for Sculpture and Installation for 2011 was Madison Bycroft.
Madison's installation was comprised of three works that incorporated performance, video and an installation utilising found ceramics and handmade ceramic elements, ash and televisions.
Her works titled "And Say the Animal Responded" (Parts 1 and 2) and "Five ways to Peel a Potato" impressed the judging panel for the witty and engaging content that evoked ideas concerned with how we shape the world by making, thinking and being in the world. Her inventive exploration of performance, video and installation demonstrated both an investigative approach and a light touch in the way the artwork encourage viewers to consider her ideas and construct their own meaning.
The Constance Gordon-Johnson Prize for Sculpture and Installation was awarded for the eighth time in 2011. The award has been made possible by a generous donation from the estate of the late Constance Gordon-Johnson, a noted South Australian artist and arts worker. Constance was well known as a leader in the visual arts, specifically community arts, and the award commemorates her vision, participation and creative spirit.
The prize is awarded each year to a UniSA School of Art, Architecture and Design graduate student with a specialisation in the studio area of Sculpture and Installation from either the Bachelor of Visual Arts or Bachelor of Visual Arts Honours programs. The prize, valued at $1,500, acknowledges outstanding achievement, and is awarded to a student on the strength of a body of work presented for selection.
"I am very honoured to receive the Constance Gordon-Johnson Prize. The work of the sculpture students this year was of an extremely high calibre, and it was an awesome group to be part of. I worked hard and I'm proud that my work stood testament to this. I am excited by the recognition, and feel very humble to be considered alongside previous scholars." Madison Bycroft
Video: Madison discusses her work
Announcing the 2011 Zero Waste SA Pam Keating Memorial Scholarship recipient: Kerrie Bell
"Receiving the Zero Waste SA Pam Keating Memorial Scholarship will enable me to invest in the resources I need to test the design of the caravan park-based food waste collection and composting system which is to be the outcome of my Honours research. The testing process will maximise the possibility of my research delivering a real-world impact. I find this possibility incredibly exciting and am therefore extremely grateful to have received this financial assistance".
Kerrie was awarded the Zero Waste SA Pam Keating Memorial Scholarship at UniSA's annual Scholarship and Grants ceremony in June 2011.
Kerrie is enrolled in the Bachelor of Sustainable Environments (Honours) and her thesis topic is entitled 'Design of behavioural interventions for maximising visitor compliance with a food waste separation scheme in a caravan park'.
The Zero Waste SA Pam Keating Memorial Scholarship was established to honour the memory of Pam Keating, a noted environmentalist and waste management expert who passionately believed in the importance of reducing waste and its impact on our environment.
The Zero Waste SA Research Centre for Sustainable Design and Behaviour is part of the School of Art, Architecture and Design within the Division of Education, Arts and Social Sciences. UniSA students with a research interest in the field of environmental waste management are encouraged to review the selection criteria for this award. Applications for the next round will open in early 2012.
Pank Family awards
Since the first Pank Prize for Entrepreneurial Activity was awarded in 2004, the Pank family have assisted a total of 94 UniSA students, and in 2011, 15 different Pank family scholarships, grants or prizes were available to our students. We recently asked some of the recipients to tell us how they felt about receiving a Pank family award.
"I would like to thank you immensely for granting me this much appreciated scholarship. Throughout my schooling life I have been disadvantaged and have struggled financially. Your scholarship has enabled me to concentrate solely on achieving the best results for my degree. It is people like you that take the time to care and help the less fortunate, such as myself, to achieve their future goals. I sincerely, and with great gratitude, thank you." Recipient of the David Pank Northern Areas High Achiever Scholarship
"I see myself as very lucky to be one of those people who were able to get a scholarship. It was a great help for me and because I got all the text books I needed and I was able to get even better grades which helped build my confidence more. Please give the Pank Family my thanks. When I first arrived in Australia I realized that this is a great country, and it is a great country not because of the political leaders or the government which runs it but because it is full of great people." Recipient of the Margaret E Pank Nursing and Midwifery Study Assistance Scholarship
"Being a recipient of the Pank scholarship made a tremendous difference in my life as it eased the burden of financial stress during my four years at university. I no longer felt that I had to miss out on text books and other vital materials and could really apply myself better due to accessibility of my own resources. It's incredible to know that there are people out there generous enough to want to support education students through financial means. As a recipient, I cannot begin to convey my gratitude towards the Pank family for their generous support throughout my time at university." Recipient of the David Pank Education Scholarship
"The Pank family scholarship made a big difference to my university life and my life in general. I grew up in the northern suburbs of Adelaide and was the first in my family to attend university. My family have never been financially well off and I had to work pretty much full time to support myself until I received the scholarship. Without this scholarship I'm not sure if I would have made it through uni. I am very appreciative to the Pank family for making a difference in my life and giving me a go." Recipient of the Margaret E Pank Nursing Scholarship
On behalf of all the recipients of Pank family awards, we would like to thank the family for their wonderful generosity over the past seven years. Their support has made a huge difference to the lives of our students, their friends and family and the communities they live in. We would also like to congratulate the 39 Pank family recipients who have graduated so far, and we look forward to many more graduations in the future.
Cowan grants
The Cowan International Placement Grants for Hawke Ambassador assist students undertaking an international placement/internship as part of the Hawke Ambassador Program. Alex Doudy received one of these grants while she was undertaking a Bachelor of Journalism/Bachelor of Arts International Studies and in 2010, with the help of the
$2,500 grant, Alex spent three months in Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia.
"In the final year of my degree I wanted to get a different perspective on the skills that I'd learned so far and was keen to gain an international experience. The Hawke Ambassador Program was the perfect opportunity because, unlike a usual exchange program, you get to undertake an industry internship instead of attending university. Wanting a challenge and a completely different cultural experience I applied to work in Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia, for three months.
I spent two months working at the NTV television station, where I was able to present a weekly English-speaking news program and work on other programs with local journalists. Driving through the streets of Ulaanbaatar with the news crew each morning in minus 15 degree weather is something I'll never forget. I also spent a month in the Mongolian countryside working at the State-run orphanage, where I helped out with practical daily tasks including keeping nearby livestock off the premises. Being awarded the Cowan International Placement Grant was a huge help during this time, and allowed me get the most out of the experience by taking up invaluable opportunities like travelling through the Gobi desert on camelback, and being able to give something back to my host country.
Since graduating in April I've joined UniSA as a Communications Officer working in media relations and publications. The Cowan International Placement Grant and the skills I learned in Mongolia have definitely helped me professionally, and is an experience that I will draw from for the rest of my life."
The Cowan Trust has been offering grants to our students since 2006 and 19 students received a Cowan Grant in 2011. The generosity of the Cowan Trust has meant that 52 students have been assisted while studying at UniSA, and we would like to sincerely thank the Trust for providing such fabulous support and opportunities.