Student awards

NSW Government Schools International Student Awards

The NSW Government Schools International Student Awards recognise the outstanding academic achievements of international students and their significant contributions to our schools and communities.

The awards also recognise school and staff excellence in supporting international students.

2021 NSW Government Schools International Student Awards Ceremony

This year, the NSW Government Schools International Student Awards Ceremony was presented virtually!

View the virtual awards ceremony >

Award Categories

Student awards

The Academic Achievement Award recognises outstanding academic results.

The Leadership Award recognises students who have demonstrated outstanding leadership through school activities and who are a positive role model and mentor to other students.

The School Service Award recognises outstanding contributions to the school community through extracurricular school and community projects, such as volunteering and fundraising.

School and staff awards

The International Student Coordinator of the Year Award recognises professional excellence in delivering services and support to international students.

The International Student Program School Excellence Award recognises best practice in delivering activities and initiatives that support international students through a whole of school approach.

Eligibility

  • Students enrolled in Year 12 at a NSW government school may be nominated for one or more student awards by a school staff member with the principal’s endorsement.
  • Nominations for school and staff awards may be submitted by school staff or anyone in the school community. Self-nominations are welcome.
  • Schools must be registered with DE International to be eligible for the school excellence award.

Nominations

The 2021 nomination round will open in September 2021 and the link to the online nomination form will be available here.

Recipients of the 2021 International Student Awards

Academic Achievement

Hong Nhat Phuong (Tracy) To, Vietnam
Burwood Girls High School
Academic Achievement Award Winner 2021
ATAR 99.95

School Service

Thu Ngoc Hoang Tran, Vietnam
Burwood Girls High School
School Service Award Winner 2021

Leadership

Tung Linh (Andrea) Ha, Vietnam
Beverly Hills Girls High School
Leadership Award Winner 2021

International Student Coordinator of the Year

Lisa Tolhurst
Concord High School
International Student Coordinator of the Year 2021

International Student Program School Excellence Award

Muirfield High School
International Student Program School Excellence Award 2021

The NSW Government Schools International Student Awards have been presented each year since 2009. For a full list of past winners, please visit our Previous Winners of NSW Government Schools International Student Awards page.

NSW International Student of the Year Award

Each year international students are selected for this prestigious award by StudyNSW based on criteria, including:

  • Being an inspirational role model to the community
  • Demonstrating an achievement or contribution that adds value to the community through
    • touching the lives of others
    • participating in the community
    • connecting an ethnic or language community group with the broader NSW community
    • volunteer work.

International students enrolled in NSW government schools have won the Schools sector category for this award in 2013, 2015, 2016, 2017, 2018, and 2020, acknowledging the outstanding contributions these students have made to their communities and the state of NSW.

Some of our award winners and nominees include:

2020 Winner – Andrea Tung Linh Ha, Beverly Hills Girls High School

2020 Finalist – Nickie Tran, Sarah Redfern High School

2019 Finalists – Baiyang Hu, Hunters Hill High School and Thong Dat (David) Pham, Kingsgrove North High School

2018 Winner – Duy Quang Mai, Homebush Boys High School

2017 Winner – Katherine Pei Kun Qi, Beverly Hills Girls High School

2016 Winner – Abigail Aguilar, Hunters Hill High School

2015 Winner – Mingjun (Martina) Zhang, Killarney Heights High School