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TJ Ryan Memorial Medal and Scholarships

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Up to 10 TJ Ryan Memorial Medal and Scholarships 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.

History of the scholarship

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 but has also been known as the Premier's Awards and the Lilley Medal.

View what others say about the scholarship (duration 2.59 minutes)transcript.

Award details

Each year, the Queensland Department of Education awards:

  • up to 10 TJ Ryan Memorial Medallists
    • a scholarship of up to $10,000 over 5 years
    • a certificate of recognition
  • up to 5 TJ Ryan Highly Commended awards
    • a one-off cash payment of $1,000
    • a certificate of recognition
  • up to 20 TJ Ryan Merit awards
    • a certificate of merit.

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 the closing date.​

Enquiries and further information

Nominations for the 2024 TJ Ryan Memorial Medal and Scholarship program have now closed. Subscribe​ to receive an email alert when applications for the 2025 scholarship program opens in Term 4.

If you have any questions about this scholarship, contact our Scholarships and Grants team by email at scholarships@qed.qld.gov.au or phone (07) 3055 2991.

2023 award recipients

Medallists

  • Allegra Daveson, Stanthorpe State High School
  • Bella Van Krieken, Kirwan State High School
  • Douglas Kirkland, The Gap State High School
  • Hugh O'Donnell, Brisbane Boys' College
  • Kate Sanderson, Australian Christian College-Moreton
  • Louise Whittaker, Ryan Catholic College
  • Pranav Sivanujan, Whitsunday Anglican School
  • Raghav Chawla, Toolooa State High School
  • Ruixing Lin, Centenary Heights State High School
  • Samuel Martin, Padua College
  • Sophie Greenhalgh, Mountain Creek State High School

Highly commended

  • Claire Thompson, Kelvin Grove State College
  • Joel Snell, St Joseph's College
  • Kate Tarvit, Kenmore State High School
  • Mallibu Burke, Matthew Flinders Anglican College
  • Zhuominna Ma, Queensland Academy for Health Sciences

Merit

  • Amy Elkington, Lourdes Hill College
  • Annabel Flower, Roma State College
  • Annalise Ryan, Marist College (Emerald)
  • Armaan Singh, Pacific Pines State High School
  • Bella Mahoney, Runcorn State High School
  • Benjamin McLeish, Cavendish Road State High School
  • Breanna Bunker, Helensvale State High School
  • Dakotalee Davies, Dakabin State High School
  • Dashreya Pillay, Stretton State College
  • Ebony Wallace, Maryborough State High School
  • Ella Glen, Robina State High School
  • Elysha Eckersley, Faith Lutheran College (Plainland)
  • Gemma Nicol, Rosedale State School
  • Hana Peacock, Murrumba State Secondary College
  • Hannah Makings, Bray Park State High School
  • Jack Thatcher, Holy Spirit College (Mount Pleasant)
  • Jamie Mohr, St Patrick's College (Townsville)
  • Joshua Burdett-Cluer, Kawana Waters State College
  • Josie Dagge, Cooktown State School
  • Kate McKenna, Boonah State High School
  • Kyla Lambert, Ormeau Woods State High School
  • Lachlan Moore, St Mary's College (Toowoomba)
  • Lana Tancred, St Benedict's College
  • Liam Russell, Pacific Lutheran College
  • Lleyton Peterson, Bundaberg State High School
  • Lucas Hale, Albany Creek State High School
  • Mac Rogers, Proserpine State High School
  • Mackenzie Shepley, St Ursula's College (Toowoomba)
  • Mahsa Nabizada, Fairholme College
  • Mason Knowles, Redlynch State College
  • Mia Jennings, Siena Catholic College
  • Olivia Gilmour, St Ursula's College (Yeppoon)
  • Rachael McNamara, St Mary's College (Ipswich)
  • Ryan Cullen, Biloela State High School
  • Ryan Hurst, Tully State High School
  • Sophia Buckley, Kedron State High School
  • Tahlia Utz, St Joseph's College (Toowoomba)
  • Tara Woods, Pimlico State High School
  • Travis Martin, Aldridge State High School
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Last updated 18 January 2024