Celebrating our Students’ Achievements

Warmest congratulations to our outstanding students who were awarded prizes for excellence in 2023!

Jacobin Bosman – Winner of the 2023 Margaret Kiddle Prize

The Margaret Kiddle Prize is awarded annually for the highest ranked honours thesis in History.

“My thesis, The Presence of Such Monsters, explored sodomy trials as sites of moral arbitration by Victoria’s colonial press. Using examples of nineteenth-century ‘trial by media,’ it considered the ways in which newspapers used such trials to articulate the boundaries of the settler civic. Receiving this prize has encouraged my ongoing research, which extends upon the findings of my Honours thesis.”

Erin Calico – Winner of the 2023 William Culican Memorial Award

The William Culican Memorial Award recognizes outstanding ability in the field of Archaeology or Ancient History.

Ann Cao – Winner of the 2023 Laurie R Gardiner Prize

This prize is awarded annually for the highest ranked essay on early modern British History (1400–1700) by an undergraduate student.

Santilla Chingaipe – Co-winner of the 2023 Indigenous History Honours Prize

“Working on the thesis, and the support I received from the faculty, really shifted how I think about and write history. I was introduced to frameworks from disciplines outside History which helped me interpret the very limited historical evidence I was engaging with, while also critically engaging with the ways epistemic violences erase and silence histories of the subaltern.”

Nicole Davis – Co-winner of the 2023 Gilbert Postdoctoral Career Development Fellowship

“Receiving a Gilbert Postdoctoral Career Development Fellowship greatly assisted me in preparing a monograph proposal deriving from my PhD thesis, which explored the history and heritage of Australia’s nineteenth-century arcades. The proposal is being submitted to an international academic publisher, accompanied by a sample chapter based on one of those in the thesis.

The Fellowship also allowed me to extend research begun during my doctoral candidature that was not able to be fully realised in the thesis and will contribute to the monograph.

This research focused on the arcades as gendered economic spaces, particularly examining women operating a range of small businesses at these sites through the 1870s to 1930s. I explored in depth several case studies, utilising a biographical approach to understand the motivations for these women’s entrepreneurship, their business networks and the commodities they traded.

At the same time, I have expanded my academic profile, presenting this work to wide audiences at national and international conferences and in public forums, including the World Economic History Congress in Lund, Sweden, and Melbourne Fashion Week. In addition, the research appears in an upcoming journal article in the Asia-Pacific Economic History Review.

The Fellowship has made a significant contribution overall towards my academic progression through this research, publication and speaking activity, as well as preparation of the monograph proposal.”

Roderick Dong – Winner of the 2023 H B Higgins Exhibition

The H.B. Higgins Exhibition is awarded to the student with the highest mark in Beginners Ancient Greek.

“I have always had an interest in Classical antiquity. Having studied Latin all throughout secondary school, I was thrilled to have the opportunity to study Ancient Greek as a breadth subject when I started Uni. When I look back on my prize, I recall fondly the time I spent studying in this subject with such an enthusiastic lecturer and friendly peers. Going forward, I definitely hope to continue learning the language in my free time!”

William Douglas – Winner of the 2023 Marion Boothby Exhibition

The Marion Boothby Exhibition is awarded annually to the student with the highest mark for an essay in the field of British history.

Kate Dospisil – Winner of the 2023 John Grice Exhibition

The John Grice Exhibition is awarded to the student with the highest aggregate mark for first-year Beginners Latin A and B.

“I began studying Classical Latin in my first year of university and quickly found a passion for it with the support of the amazing teaching team. I am grateful for the way the university helped foster my love for the language all the way from Latin 1 to Latin 6.”

Libby Farkas – Winner of the 2023 National Council of Jewish Women of Australia Fanny Reading Scholarship in Hebrew Language; and the Takamitsu Muraoka Prize

The National Council of Jewish Women of Australia Fanny Reading Scholarship in Hebrew Language is awarded to the highest ranked student in  beginners, intermediate or advanced Hebrew language subjects.

The Takamitsu Muraoka Prize is awarded annually to the highest ranked student in beginners, intermediate or advanced Hebrew language subjects.

Ebony Freestone – Winner of the 2023 Exhibition for First-Year History

Olivia Gladwell-Bolte – Winner of the 2023 Rosemary Merlo Prize for Second-Year History

The Rosemary Merlo Prize for Second-year History is awarded for the best essay submitted as part of the prescribed work for a history subject.

“It is an honour to have received the Rosemary Merlo Prize with the essay I submitted for the subject, Holocaust and Genocide. The essay explored the role that spaces play in constructing memories of genocide, focusing on the contexts of Germany, Cambodia and Rwanda. It drew attention to the active process that is history-making, and the ways that memories can be constructed and reconstructed over time. I am very grateful for this award as it has encouraged my passion for historical research.”

Baruch Goberman – Winner of the 2023 A D Hallam Memorial Prize

Isabella Greene – Winner of the 2023 Chris Manousopoulos Prize in Ancient History

“I was incredibly grateful to have been considered for and to have received the 2023 Chris Manousopoulos prize for Ancient History. My time at the University of Melbourne has been instrumental in my academic and professional development, and I was so thankful that Gary and Margaret Israel’s generous contribution allowed me to continue to study, finishing my honours year in 2024. Since then I embarked on a trip through western Europe, visiting ancient sites and museums. I look forward to continuing my studies overseas, made possible by and enhanced by the university’s amazing academic team.”

Oliver Kalicin – Winner of the 2023 Wyselaskie Scholarship in Logic

This prize is awarded annually to the highest ranked undergraduate student in Logic.

“Receiving this award not only affirms the dedication and effort I have tried to carry through my undergraduate degree, but has enabled me to complete my Master’s without working part-time or taking on student debt. I am incredibly grateful for the privilege of being able to dedicate myself to my studies in this way.”

Beau Kent – Winner of a 2023 Hastie Scholarship

Two Hastie Scholarships are awarded to the two highest achieving students in honours Philosophy.

“My honours thesis was an attempt at presenting a phenomenology of transnational adoptees, and the difficult and sometimes paradoxical processes of racialisation that adoptees experience when navigating through space. This work has not only been immensely beneficial for my own tarrying with adoption and racialisation but has also brought me into an international community of adoptee activists and scholars. The Hastie scholarship has allowed me to continue working in this area, and I am now undertaking a Masters thesis at Deakin university on critical phenomenology and intercountry adoption archives, contributing to the ongoing developments and debates around the recent South Korean Truth and Reconciliation commission findings on Intercountry Adoption and the construction of a permanent archive for the preservation of adoption records. I would like to thank my thesis supervisor, Dr Ryan Gustafsson, for their guidance, expertise, and kindness throughout the completion of the thesis.”

Cassandra Kiely – Winner of the 2023 Antonio Sagona Scholarship

“Obtaining the Antonio Sagona scholarship in 2023 was a tremendous privilege, as is the opportunity to continue working on the GAIA (Georgian-Australian Investigations in Archaeology) project, the joint initiative between the University of Melbourne and the Georgian National Museum, initiated by the late emeritus Professor Antonio (Tony) Sagona. Through this scholarship I was able to travel to Georgia for the 2023 GAIA fieldwork season at Rabati. Working closely with Dr Claudia Sagona in the ceramics lab and through her mentorship, I developed crucial pottery drawing skills and a thorough understanding of Rabati’s medieval ceramic assemblage. During the season, I also began cataloguing the medieval ceramic wares previously excavated; this original data has been crucial for my PhD thesis, exposing new typological groups and potential trade links with the broader region. This work would not have been possible without the funding provided by the Sagona scholarship. I feel a great sense of pride, not only for this award, but also for the opportunity to contribute to the GAIA project and in turn, to be a small part of Tony Sagona’s legacy.”

Emily Knott – Winner of the 2023 Rosemary Merlo Prize for First-Year History

This prize is awarded annually for the best essay in a first-year History subject.

“I received the 2023 Rosemary Merlo Prize for an essay which argued that Latin American experiences after World War II were shaped by the United States’ quest for hegemony. I wrote this in my first semester of my first year at University, starting my double major in history and politics. It was a fascinating topic which explored the short-term impacts of military and economic imperialism. I am incredibly grateful to receive this award, which has encouraged me to continue exploring diverse perspectives and experiences in my undergraduate degree!”

Kameron Lai – Winner of the 2023 Felix Raab Prize

The Felix Raab Prize is awarded to the highest achieving student for an essay on early modern European history.

“I am deeply honoured to be the 2023 recipient of the Felix Raab Prize. To be recognised for this essay means a lot to me, I truly loved exploring the symbols of violence of the French Wars of Religion, and had such a phenomenal experience in the subject that I owe deeply to my professors, Associate Professor Jenny Spinks and Professor Zoë Laidlaw. I have always been fascinated by the power of symbols and identity, and feel incredibly touched that my essay was chosen by the committee.”

Rachel Lynch – Winner of the 2023 Exhibition for First-Year Classics

Liz Martin (formerly Lee Hazel) – Winner of the 2023 Brenda Judge Prize for Second Year in Philosophy

This prize is awarded to the highest ranked essay in a second-year Philosophy subject.

“I’ll never forget attending philosophy tutorials under security guard because the professor dared to teach, among many other perspectives, the idea that sex is a binary material reality onto which gender roles are imposed. I was honoured to receive the panel-awarded Brenda Judge Prize for Second Year in Philosophy for my essay arguing the same.”

Henry Mathison – Winner of the 2023 Ken McKay Prize for Beginners Greek

Seth McKellar – Winner of the 2023 Hansen Scholarship in History

Liliana Mcrae – Winner of the 2023 Adele Henderson Prize

This prize is awarded annually for the highest ranked political philosophy and social philosophy essay.

“My essay explored whether Sally Haslanger’s social constructivist definition of ‘woman’ is sufficiently inclusive to provide a tool for feminist praxis. I argued that Haslanger’s account fails to recognise the oppression faced by non cis passing trans women. Thus, her view produces a definition of woman that excludes certain social kinds that a feminist definition ought to include.”

Lily Moore – Winner of the 2023 Thérèse and Ronald Ridley Scholarship

The Thérèse and Ronald Ridley Scholarship supports a current PhD student in the Classics and Archaeology department at the University of Melbourne. The scholarship is to be used to travel to the British School at Rome to conduct research that will assist PhD completion.

“Receiving the Thérèse and Ronald Ridley Scholarship was an immense honour and validating reward in the early stages of my PhD candidature. With this, I was able to spend a whirlwind two months at the British School at Rome conducting research for my thesis which is a cultural study of trees in Ancient Rome. Particularly invaluable was the access to the vast range of libraries, sites, and museums in Rome and Naples where I was able to document the visual culture needed for my studies, finding even more evidence than I had hoped. It was an entirely momentous experience for me; I can’t thank the Ridleys enough!”

Emily Morgan – Winner of the 2023 D H Rankin Essay Prize

The D.H. Rankin Essay Prize is offered to students who achieved the highest result for the Honours thesis in Classics.

“It really was a great honour to be awarded the D H Rankin Essay Prize. My Honours thesis was about comedic innovations in the tragedies of Euripides, particularly in Alcestis, Ion, Helen, and Iphigeneia among the Taurians. It especially argued that these ‘tragedies’ were in fact prototypes to ‘tragicomedy’ due to their strong comedic aspects, their influence on both Old and New Comedy, and their similarity to Plautus’ ‘tragicomoedia’, Amphitryon. I very much enjoyed researching and writing my thesis, and I am humbled that it has been awarded this prize.”

William Mott – Winner of the 2023 Gyles Turner Prize

The Gyles Turner Prize is awarded annually for an undergraduate essay in Australian history.

“It is an honour to have been nominated for the Gyles Turner Prize. The prize was a humbling reward for the effort I put into my studies and the passion that I take with me each time I dive into the study of the past. My confidence in reading and writing about the past is renewed by the recognition it symbolises, and further encourages me to pursue my interest in history.”

Elizabeth Muldoon – Winner of the 2023 Dennis-Wettenhall Prize

The Dennis-Wettenhall Prize supports Faculty of Arts graduate students who submit the best thesis on an aspect of Australian history.

Elanor Parkinson – Winner of the 2023 Donald Mackay History Prize

This prize is awarded annually to the student with the highest mark in any History (other than British History) in the second year of a Bachelor of Arts.

Shannon Peters – Winner of the 2023 Wyselaskie Scholarship for History

The Wyselaskie Scholarship in History is awarded annually to the highest achieving first year PhD student in History.

“I am very grateful to have received the Wyselaskie Scholarship for History, which has supported my dissertation research on the heterogeneity of early-twentieth-century educational progressivism in the United States. This award has enabled me to pursue valuable opportunities to present my work at international conferences, broadening my understanding of the field while also reinforcing my commitment to this research and its significance.”

Harriet Pollitt – Winner of the 2023 Douglas Howard Exhibition

“I am honoured to accept such a prestigious and generous prize, and I am deeply grateful to both Gary and Margaret Israel for establishing such an impactful and important celebration of learning. Roman history has been a long-term passion of mine, and I am truly privileged to be able to pursue this passion in an environment which has continued to enrich my learning and encourage my research interests throughout my undergraduate degree.

In 2024, I completed a Bachelor of Arts with a major in Ancient World Studies and a minor in Classics (specialising in Latin). Currently, I am lucky enough to be completing my Honours year in the same subject, through which I have written a dissertation exploring what ancient Pompeian graffiti can reveal to us about the lived experiences of sex labourers in the Roman world. Thanks to this award, I have been able to collect photo data in Pompeii which has contributed meaningfully to my dissertation. Such an experience was not only profoundly beneficial to my research in Roman social history, but has formed an integral part of my personal development as an aspiring social historian. Conducting research in-person into a topic I am extremely passionate about has been the greatest gift of my time at the University of Melbourne and foreshadows an exciting future in my further studies.

I would like to thank the incredible teaching staff in the Classics and Archaeology department at the University of Melbourne, whose dedication to my educational development has shaped me into the scholar I am today. In particular, I would like to extend my thanks to Tim Parkin, my thesis supervisor and Latin teacher, whose enthusiasm for the Roman world has continuously fostered my love of ancient history and the classics throughout my undergraduate degree. I hope that one day, through my own research, I might foster a similar enthusiasm in prospective students of Roman social history.” 

Divya Rama Gopalakrishnan – Co-winner of a 2023 Gilbert Postdoctoral Career Fellowship

“I am honoured to be the recipient of a 2023 Gilbert Postdoctoral Career Development Fellowship. Thanks to this generous support, I have completed the initial research for my project on the History of Cancer in pre-colonial and colonial India and collected relevant materials from the National Archives of India, the Tamil Nadu State Archives and the Government Oriental Manuscript Library and Research Centre. Even though I need to collect more archival materials from the British Library and the Wellcome Library, the materials collected from various archives in India provide foundational evidence to support this project. I will eventually develop it into an ARC DECRA project. The project explores the historical, socio-political, and medical implications of Cancer in colonial India. It also examines how Cancer as a disease became part of the race theory of the early twentieth century and how colonised bodies played an essential role in developing knowledge about and treatment for Cancer. This way, the project will explore India’s contribution to the global development of cancer care. Once again, I would like to express my sincere gratitude to the selection committee and Fay and Barry Gilbert for their generosity and support.”

Aleksandra Riabichenko – Winner of the 2023 Alma Hansen Scholarship

“The Alma Hansen Scholarship provided me with invaluable opportunities to access archival collections in several institutions in Washington, D.C., to connect with leading scholars in the U.S., and to experience the life of a professional historian travelling the world in pursuit of secrets hidden in the archives”. 

Jovan Stojkovski – Winner of the 2023 Brenda Judge Prize for Third Year in Philosophy

“Receiving the Brenda Judge Prize was a welcome surprise. Because I received it at the end of my Honours year for work done the year prior, it caused me to reflect on how my skills in philosophical writing had developed over years of studying. Moreover, it was encouraging to receive some recognition given the inherent difficulties of securing work or a career in this field. Of course, the monetary prize was also quite helpful, particularly in being able to pursue graduate studies in the field.”

Willa Swift – Co-winner of the 2023 Indigenous History Honours Prize

Shian Tan (Andy) – Winner of the 2023 Douglas Howard Exhibition

“I am very grateful to the university for offering prizes such as the Douglas Howard Exhibition to acknowledge and encourage students of the Classics, a field which is deeply enriching and continues to be surprisingly relevant in today’s world. My studies at the University of Melbourne were a very formative experience, and I am still continuing to put my Ancient Greek to use in my Honours research project.”

Georgia Topalidis – Winner of the 2023 R G Wilson Scholarship for Third Year

Emily Tour – Winner of a 2023 Jessie Webb Scholarship

The Jessie Webb Scholarship supports graduate research students enrolled in the Classics and Archaeology program in the Faculty of Arts, undertaking a course of study at the British School at Athens or another similar school in Greece.

“My PhD research focuses on exploring quantitative, data-driven methods that can be used to analyse, classify and compare the many different types of clay administrative devices (tablets, labels, sealings, tokens etc.) in use throughout the Bronze Age period on both Crete and mainland Greece.

Receiving the Jessie Webb scholarship in 2023 allowed me to undertake a 2-month trip to Greece and the UK at the end of that year and conduct some key research for my thesis. I had the amazing opportunity to access the collections of a number of museums and use photogrammetry to 3D model almost 80 different administrative devices. I was also able to visit the majority of the archaeological sites where these objects were found, helping to put them in context. And I was afforded the opportunity to study at the Knossos Research Centre (KRC) for a number of weeks, which allowed me to not only access the wonderful resources in their library, but also meet a number of other scholars in my field of research.

This research trip has been the highlight of my PhD to date. It provided me with an invaluable collection of data necessary to complete my project, as well as a richer understanding of the Aegean world, and a wonderful new network of connections and friendships to support my future research endeavours.”

Katia Tulyakova – Winner of the 2023 Laurie Prizes

The Laurie Prizes were established to honour Henry Laurie, philosopher, journalist and
professor of Logic and Philosophy in the University of Melbourne. He was the first professor
of mental and moral philosophy at the University, taking the position of chair in 1886.

“I am very proud to have finished Honours at the top of my class, and am grateful for the award. It came out of nowhere, and not expecting it made it so much more gratifying. But if my individual success should stand for anything, I want it to stand for those who venture into the study of philosophy from CALD [Culturally and Linguistically Diverse] backgrounds. English may be our second (or third) language but learning it can give us the attention toward its use which is second to none.”

Anastasia Vassiliadis – Winner of a 2023 Jessie Webb Scholarship

The Jessie Webb Scholarship supports graduate research students enrolled in the Classics and Archaeology program in the Faculty of Arts, undertaking a course of study at the British School at Athens or another similar school in Greece.

“The Jessie Webb Scholarship enabled me to conduct further research and immerse myself in the topic of my thesis, Euripides’ Medea. I was able to travel to Greece to take part in the Paideia Institute’s ‘Living Greek in Greece’ program centred around the ancient play, where we read, translated, discussed, and performed The Medea— all in ancient Greek! The program also included a weekend trip to important archeology sites including Corinth (the setting of the play) and Epidauros (an ancient theatre). The former was instrumental in helping me to contextualise the play, providing a sense of the natural topography and size and scope of the ancient city, meanwhile, the latter provided new insights into how theatre was experienced in the ancient world, and included a visit to a well-timed exhibition on the play.”

Luca Vetere – Winner of the 2023 Panagacos Family Prize in Ancient Languages

This award is given to high-achieving students who have completed their third year of study in Ancient Greek literature and language.

“I have a great passion for Ancient Languages, which has flourished at the University of Melbourne and through self-study which was spurred by my education. I primarily use the language and literature of the ancient world as a lens through which I can look at the society, culture and peoples. I am incredibly grateful to the Panagacos Family for their generosity in recognising and supporting me.

The Panagacos Family Prize in Ancient Languages allowed me to expand my study of ancient languages. Specifically, I could pursue an overseas exchange semester at University College London where I was immersed in ancient language and the Classical world. I plan to continue my study of ancient languages and linguistics with post graduate studies.”