The inaugural UNSW Culture Awards was held on Friday 4 November, to celebrate student contribution to the cultural, artistic and community life of the university. Students and clubs were acknowledged for their leadership and innovation in art, music, religious programs, and engagement within our diverse campus community. There were performances from UNSW String Ensemble, UNSW Piano Society, and the Burgundian Consort. 

Our thanks to Oliver Pike, Chair of Arc Board for giving the Acknowledgement of Country, and to Deputy Vice-Chancellor Academic Quality Professor Merlin Crossley, Deputy Vice-Chancellor Equity, Diversity & Inclusion Professor Eileen Baldry, Director of Wellbeing Neil Morris and CEO of UNSW Press Kathy Bail for their involvement in presenting awards, with the leaders of the Culture portfolio, Senior Curator of Art Elena Taylor and Creative Program Manager of Music Performance Eleasha Mah. Conductors of the UNSW Wind Symphony Paul Vickers and UNSW Orchestra Dr Steven Hillinger presented the Willgoss Instrumental Prizes, which with the Willgoss Choral Prizes, are possible thanks to the incredible ongoing support of Richard and Sue Willgoss.

The full list of winners:

Club contribution to international student experience - Boardgames & RPG Society

awarded to a recognised UNSW student organisation which has demonstrated impactful development and support of the international student experience at UNSW through programs and activities, to a diverse student audience.

Boardgames and RPG Society hold free social sessions three times each week in person and online, and held events specifically in International Welcome Week to encourage community building for international students, particularly those coming to UNSW for the first time. The Society also rostered team members with second languages to be more inclusive and engaging with international students, as a pilot program to be repeated in 2023. As a result, the executive team of the society includes at least 10 international students, which has ensured better support of the international student experience in their activities and planning.

Student contribution to international student experience - Hossein Salehi

awarded to an enrolled UNSW student who has improved the campus experience for international students through leadership and innovation.

Hossein Salehi is an executive member of both the Materials Science and Engineering Postgraduate Society and the Iranian Student Association at UNSW. He has actively organised social events for international students within his school and for the Iranian student community, including an International Food Fest, sporting and outdoor activities, and an Eid Feast. He describes the environment of UNSW as ‘always encouraging him to give back the amazing feeling he has had about being here from the beginning’.

Chaplaincy Community Contribution Award - Lorenzo Ortega Saavedra

presented to an enrolled student and current member of a religious group at UNSW who has made significant contributions to the university and broader community. Nominations for this award were made by the Chaplains of the UNSW Religious Centre.

Lorenzo Ortega Saavedra has been a committed member of the Catholic Society since 2020, and has served on the executive of both the UNSW Catholic Society and Catholic Asian Student Society. He is described as being very generous with him time, and has established as Philosophy group for society members. He is a great supporter to the chaplaincy team in preparing weekly masses on campus, also contributing through singing, and representing the chaplaincy at an interuniversity debating competition.

Art Collection Writing Prize - Aileen Huilin Wang

offered for a piece of student writing relating to UNSW's Art Collection. Entrants were required to submit of a short, original creative response to one of three specified works of art selected from the UNSW Art Collection.

Aileen Huilin Wang is a third-year student in a Bachelor of Data Science at UNSW. She is an aspiring poet and writer with a life-long love of words. When she isn’t writing, she’s reading, baking or knitting. Her submission was a poem entitled ‘Cat’s Cradle’, described it as a sophisticated piece of writing, that captures the essence of Bronwyn Oliver’s Globe, that weaves together a series of playful images and metaphors.

Willgoss Instrumental Prize UNSW Orchestra - Akira McPhee

to acknowledge and celebrate the contribution of a student member of the UNSW Orchestra for their demonstration of a high level of commitment, performance and ensemble contribution across the entire academic year.

Akira McPhee plays viola in the UNSW Orchestra, and is a third-year student studying a Bachelor of Engineering (Mechatronics) and Master of Biomedical Engineering. Akira also works at the James N. Kirby Makerspace at UNSW.

Willgoss Instrumental Prize Highly Commended UNSW Orchestra - Natalie Liu

to acknowledge and celebrate the contribution of a member of the UNSW Orchestra for their demonstration of a high level of commitment, performance and ensemble contribution across the entire academic year.

Natalie Liu is a member of the first violins in the UNSW Orchestra. She is a second year of a Bachelor of Music (Performance)/ Bachelor of Science (Psychology).

Willgoss Instrumental Prize UNSW Wind Symphony - Andrew Carter

to acknowledge and celebrate the contribution of a student member of the UNSW Wind Symphony for their demonstration of a high level of commitment, performance and ensemble contribution across the entire academic year.

Andrew Carter is a flute player in his second year of Bachelor of Music Bachelor of Education combined degree.

Willgoss Instrumental Prize Highly Commended UNSW Wind Symphony - Caitlin Rinos

to acknowledge and celebrate the contribution of a member of the UNSW Wind Symphony for their demonstration of a high level of commitment, performance and ensemble contribution across the entire academic year.

Caitlin Rinos is a clarinettist in her 5^th year of a Bachelor of Music Bachelor of Education. She has been a member of the Wind Symphony for each of her five years of study.

Willgoss Choral Prize Collegium Musicum Choir - Tom Zhao

to acknowledge and celebrate the contribution of a student member of the Collegium Musicum Choir for their demonstration of a high level of commitment, performance and ensemble contribution across the entire academic year.

Tom Zhao is a tenor in the choir, and PhD student in Environment management, soil science and environmental geophysics.

Willgoss Choral Prize Highly Commended Collegium Musicum Choir - Andrea Lloyd

to acknowledge and celebrate the contribution of a member of the Collegium Musicum Choir for their demonstration of a high level of commitment, performance and ensemble contribution across the entire academic year.

Andrea Lloyd is an alto in the choir, and is Practice Manager of the UNSW Fatigue Clinic.

Willgoss Choral Prize Burgundian Consort - Logan Birchall

to acknowledge and celebrate the contribution of a student member of the Burgundian Consort for their demonstration of a high level of commitment, performance and ensemble contribution across the entire academic year. 

Logan Birchall is a bass, and is undertaking a Master of Teaching having completed his Bachelor of Music in trumpet at UNSW.

Willgoss Choral Prize Highly Commended Burgundian Consort - Erin Pacholke

to acknowledge and celebrate the contribution of a student member of the Burgundian Consort for their demonstration of a high level of commitment, performance and ensemble contribution across the entire academic year.

Erin Pacholke is an alto, and is currently in her third year of a combined Bachelor of Music Bachelor of Commerce.

Student community impact award - Rosina Baumann

supported by the Division of Equity, Diversity & Inclusion, for a currently enrolled student at UNSW who has demonstrated positive impact on the broader community at UNSW and in outward-facing community engagement.

Rosina Baumann is a Butchulla woman, and is the Indigenous Officer at Arc. In 2022 she presided over NAIDOC Week activations, drove implementation of the Arc Indigenous Strategy, and represented the indigenous student community through two significant Acknowledgements of Country at UNSW events.  Rosie is studying a Bachelor of Architecture.

Student cultural experience award - Mohique Gajdhar

supported by the Division of Equity, Diversity & Inclusion, for a currently enrolled student at UNSW who has demonstrated leadership in promoting artistic or ethnocultural expression within the greater UNSW community,  and demonstrated innovation in creating cultural experiences for a diverse student community on and off campus.

Mohique Gajdhar is a fourth-year international student studying Mechatronics Engineering. He is the 2022 President of the UNSW Indian Society, and has been a leader in initiatives across the year engaging large numbers of students, such as large Indian festival celebrations, a Peer Mentorship Program, and formation of an Indian cultural performance group. He promoted collaborative events with UTS and University of Sydney Indian Societies, and an Intercultural Eid Festival with UNSW’s Pakistani, Bangladeshi and Muslim Students’ societies.

Club cultural impact award - Myanmar Students’ Society UNSW

awarded to a recognised UNSW student organisation which has demonstrated impactful promotion of artistic or ethnocultural expression within the greater UNSW community to a diverse student audience.

Myanmar Students’ Society UNSW strives to create an inclusive community pillar for all Burmese international students, and to share Myanmar culture with the broader student community. Activities throughout the year have included fundraising to support refugees and disadvantaged students, as well as raising cultural awareness through creative programs and festivals.

International student-in-residence impact award - Man Sin Magdalene Che

presented to an international student currently enrolled at UNSW, and resident a college affiliated with UNSW. The winner has demonstrated a positive contribution to college life and impact on the residential community, and has shown initiative and leadership in promoting student engagement and interaction.

Man Sin Magdalene Che is an international student from Hong Kong and resident of New College Village. She is in her 2nd year of a Bachelor of Actuarial Studies and Commerce, and the incoming president of the Project Hope society. She has shown leadership in supporting international student colleagues in settling into the university environment, and is strongly invested in the charity work of Project Hope, raising funds for underprivileged children to support education.