2021 NGS Super Scholarship Awards winners announced

As Australian educators return to classrooms after almost 2 years navigating the pandemic, at NGS Super we’re recognising and rewarding trailblazing teachers.

We’re delighted to announce 7 winners of the 2021 NGS Super Scholarship Awards.

All winners receive a grant to fund projects ranging from designing and constructing solar and wind charging stations for electronics, to creating an Indigenous Australians Database (IAD) to help non-Indigenous teachers ensure Indigenous culture is embedded in all areas of education.

The 2021 winners and their inspiring projects are the face and future of educational innovation. Our CEO, Laura Wright, had this to say.

“The future of education in this country is looking bright based on what we’re seeing from our scholarship applications each year. This year’s winners are trailblazers in their field. In fact, we were so inspired this year that we added a new award with the CEO Pick going to Talitha Phillips, at Grace Lutheran College in QLD.

“We’re using World Teachers’ Day — celebrated in Australia on October 30 — to reveal the 2021 winners and to celebrate the positive impact the projects will have on future generations.”

The awards are focused on identifying and funding groundbreaking ideas, with 7 scholarships to the value of $5,000 each awarded to NGS Super members across the 3 categories of navigating life, sustainability and general.

This year’s scholarship winners will implement diverse initiatives that range from tackling cyber-wellness in primary schools using the pillars of Positive Education (PERMAH), building healthy social and emotional skills through creative arts, improving employability through STEM knowledge, and connecting students across Queensland through digital poetry.

We’ve awarded over $330,000 to more than 50 recipients over 12 years to support educators’ professional development and to drive positive change in education.

The Judges’ Choice award winner, Jennifer Greenland, a Science and Maths teacher at Grace Lutheran College in Queensland, is passionate about sustainable energy and environmental awareness. Jennifer will use her scholarship to design and construct solar and wind charging stations for electronic devices at her school’s grounds as part of a pilot program.

“My project encourages students and staff to apply their sustainability knowledge in solving real-world issues. I’m excited about its benefits and hope it can be widely adopted by schools in the future,” she said.

Talitha Phillips, Year 12 Coordinator and Digital Solutions Teacher (also at Grace Lutheran College in Queensland), is this year’s CEO Pick. Growing up in a Torres Strait Islander family, Talitha recognises the knowledge gap of indigenous culture amongst Australian students and is committed to closing the gap.

“My project involves creating an Indigenous Australians Database (IAD). Having this database of Indigenous regions, languages, artifacts, stories and more will help bridge the gap and help non-Indigenous teachers to ensure Indigenous culture is embedded in all areas of education,” she said.

In the words of our CEO, Laura Wright:

“Our Scholarship Awards are a fantastic way to give back to our members and to help inspire and enable educators who want to innovate to make a positive impact for our children and next generations.”

Meet the winners