Three students from Catholic schools have been named among the winners in the 2021 Premier’s Anzac Spirit School Prize Competition.
Congratulations to Jennifer Nguyen from Our Lady of the Sacred Heart College Enfield and Aidan Chong and Sadie Schultz from Saint Ignatius College Athelstone on their prize-winning entries in the state-wide competition.
Their teachers, Maria Kambanaros and Stephen Uren respectively were also acknowledged for their support and encouragement of their students’ participation in the competition.
Just 20 students across the state were awarded with this prestigious prize, run each year by the South Australian state government to encourage young South Australians to understand, connect with and maintain the Anzac Spirit.
It gives students in Year 9 and 10 across all sectors of education in South Australia the opportunity to examine and empathise with the remarkable sacrifices of South Australian service men or women during the 20th century.
Using a range of sources to research the experiences of a South Australian Navy, Army, Airforce or Nursing service man or woman, students submit a 1500-word essay about how they embodied the characteristics of the Anzac spirit, such as courage, perseverance, mateship and resourcefulness.
Jennifer’s winning essay was written about Lloyd Evelyn Wigg, who is a relative of two current OLSH College staff members.
Jennifer follows in the footsteps of previous OLSH College students. In 2018, Year 10 students Lajpreet Thind and Jenny Tran were also each awarded a Premier’s Anzac Spirit School Prize, and in 2020 Year 10 student Mia Tsimouris and Year 9 student Lara Nguyen were also recognised for their prize-winning entries in the state-wide competition.
Adin and Sadie from St Ignatius’ College follow in the footsteps of fellow students Immogen Pertini and Oscar Rice who were awarded in 2020.
“I would like to congratulate the students, their teachers and their Principals in being successful through their research, often as extra-curricular work to bring to light the efforts, dedication, perseverance and fate of many South Australian servicewomen and servicemen,” says John Mula, Deputy Director, Catholic Education South Australia.
The awards were presented by Steven Marshall MP, Premier for South Australia at a ceremony on September 3, 2021, at Anzac House, Torrens Parade Ground.
The award-winning students are invited to participate in a fully funded study tour to Darwin during 2022.
Pictured above L-R: Peter Coffey, Principal, Saint Ignatius College, Maria Urbano, Principal, Our Lady of the Sacred Heart College, Stephen Uren, Teacher, Saint Ignatius College, Sadie Schultz, Aidan Chong, Jennifer Nguyen, Dr Neil McGoran, Director, Catholic Education South Australia and Maria Kambanaros, Teacher, Our Lady of the Sacred Heart College.
The Catholic Church in Australia marks Safeguarding Sunday on the second Sunday of September - at the conclusion of National Child Protection Week.
