Notre Dame Education Students Awarded for Excellence

Document Type

Media Release

Publication Date

Winter 28-6-2007

Publisher Name

The University of Notre Dame Australia, Fremantle

Publication Place

Fremantle

Abstract

It was a clean sweep this semester for The University of Notre Dame Australia, Fremantle School of Education with seven students receiving scholarships and awards.

Four students were given $12, 000 Country Service Scholarships from the Catholic Education Office (CEO), designed to encourage graduates to teach in rural areas. Only four scholarships are offered to Western Australian tertiary students.

Students Gemma Gordon, Amanda De Gooijer, Morgan Schorer and Christine Terrantory received one year’s tuition and living expenses and a guaranteed position in a rural school, provided they spend two years teaching in the country after they graduate.

Gemma Gordon, who is planning to move to Kununurra, said she applied for the scholarship because she wanted to challenge herself and experience something different.

“I really think teaching in the country for a few years will open up some great doors and give me better opportunities for when I eventually move back to the city. I am so happy and extremely grateful to the CEO for this chance,” said Ms Gordon.

Three more students, Jayson Peacock, Rashini Horsfall and Teneeka Hill, each received a Primary Pre-service Award for Excellence in Science Education and $2,000 from The Department of Education and Science Training (DEST).

The Australian Government offers this award to exemplary students who complete in 2007 - as part of their primary, early childhood or middle years teacher education course - one or more science education units. This is done to encourage future primary school teachers to develop competence and confidence in teaching science.

Jayson Peacock, who is finishing his Bachelor of Education (Primary) and Bachelor of Biomedical Science this year, said he felt privileged to receive the award.

“I was thrilled to receive the award as I saw it as being recognition of the five years I have put into my degrees. I am passionate about science and love teaching it. It is great to see that the government is trying to increase the status of science teaching in primary schools and create more jobs for science specialists,” said Mr Peacock.

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