Up to 15 TJ Ryan Memorial Medal and Prizes are awarded each year, to support exemplary Queensland students to pursue tertiary studies.
State and non-state secondary schools can nominate
1 high achieving Year 12 student for this award. Nominees should demonstrate outstanding leadership in their school and community and academic excellence.
Award details
Each year, the Queensland Department of Education awards:
- up to 15 TJ Ryan Memorial Medallists
- a prize valued at $5,000
- a certificate of recognition
- up to 15 TJ Ryan Merit awards
How schools nominate their candidate
Each Queensland secondary school can submit only 1 nominee.
- Review the Nomination Guidelines provided
- Schools determine their 1 nominee
- Review the nomination process with the selected nominee to prepare a nomination
Student nominee submits the nomination.
- Gather all supporting documents (as listed in the scholarship checklist provided on Smart Jobs).
- Visit Smart Jobs to nominate yourself for the scholarship.
- Click the green 'apply online' button at the bottom of that page to proceed—you may need to create an account.
- When logged in to the Smart Jobs account, complete the online questionnaire and upload all required supporting documents by 15 November 2024 via the Smart Jobs 'Apply now' button below.
Apply now
History of the Award
The TJ Ryan Memorial Medal represents a long-standing tradition of recognising educational achievement in Queensland. The award is a memorial to Thomas Joseph Ryan, former teacher, barrister and Queensland Premier (1915–1919), and are provided to students who demonstrate a strong commitment to high academic achievement and outstanding leadership in both their school and the local community.
From 1927 to 1970, the TJ Ryan Memorial Scholarship was awarded to the student who achieved the highest result in the state scholarship examination. The scholarship program ceased with the end of these public examinations.
In 1993, the TJ Ryan Awards were re-introduced by the Queensland Government. The award was open to students from disadvantaged backgrounds who demonstrated academic excellence and who displayed leadership qualities through their achievements in Year 12. From 1996, the awards were expanded to all students who demonstrate outstanding leadership qualities and academic excellence during their senior years at high school.
In 2003, the award was renamed the TJ Ryan Memorial Medal and Scholarships, and in 2024 renamed to the TJ Ryan Memorial Medal and Prize. The award has also been known as the Premier's Awards and the Lilley Medal.
View what others say about the Awards (duration 2.59 minutes).
Enquiries and further information
Nominations for the 2024 TJ Ryan Memorial Medal and Prize are now open.
Students interested in being considered for the Award should discuss a nomination with their school principal. Each secondary school is only able to nominate
1 student.
Nominations will close at midnight on Friday 15 November 2024.
Past award recipients
Medallists
Aquila Fisher, Mackay Christian College
Jai Katene, Robina State High School
Jessnee Ng, Coolum State High School
Makenzie Newton, St Hilda's School
Myuri Gopalapillai, Trinity Anglican School
Samuel Brown, Queensland Academy for Health Sciences
Saranna Argent, Marsden State High School
Sean Lunney, Palm Beach-Currumbin State High School
Sophie Wall, Mountain Creek State High School
William Anderson, Toowoomba Grammar School
Highly commended
Aaron Smith, St. Johns Anglican College
Alexander Finney, Padua College
Alyssa Pease, Toolooa State High School
Betty Angeli, Lourdes Hill College
Darius Esmail-Zadeh, Tropical North Learning Academy—Smithfield State High School
Georgia Herbener, Bundaberg State High School
Grace Quin, Kirwan State High School
Lily Mifsud, Whitsunday Anglican School
Luke Haken, Gladstone State High School
Rebecca Mullock, Burnside State High School
Sam Rogers, Proserpine State High School
Merit
Amos Wallis, Dalby Christian College
Ayana Saju, Nerang State High School
Cate Ward, Loreto College
Chaz Nelder, St Augustine's College (Cairns)
Chloe Avenell, St Mary's College (Ipswich)
Eleanor Schick, St Mary's Catholic College (Kingaroy)
Ella Woodburn, Chancellor State College
Emily Fox, Craigslea State High School
Erin Walsh, Assumption College
Ethan Kropp, James Nash State High School
Gabrielle Spiclin, Caloundra City Private School
Grace Waters, St George State High School
Hayley Kirkpatrick, Noosa District State High School
Holly Jennings, Wellington Point State High School
Jack Gorman, Kenmore State High School
Joseph Lewis, Marist College Ashgrove
Karen Waters, Mabel Park State High School
Larissa Frost, Pioneer State High School
Laura McCormick, North Lakes State College
Madison Powell, Emerald State High School
Marissa Mali, Grace Lutheran College (Caboolture)
Molly Quant, Bracken Ridge State High School
Nathan McMullen, Helensvale State High School
Noah Felton, Elanora State High School
Olivia Bennett, Kingston State College
Poppy Taylor, Beerwah State High School
Prabhjot Singh, MacGregor State High School
Renee McKeering, St Ursula's College (Yeppoon)
Sarah Bourke, St Patrick's College (Townsville)
Sarah Onoprienko, Isis District State High School
T'ea Page, Maryborough State High School
Thomas Somerville, Benowa State High School
Trista Kopeshke, Ingham State High School
Yvette Hardy, Trinity Bay State High School
Zachary Hampson, North Rockhampton State High School