Wentworth Medal

Established in 1854 by a gift of £200 from W.C. Wentworth, the interest to be applied in the shape of a medal as a reward for the best essay in English prose. The Medal is now supplemented by a prize of $10,000. The competition for the Medal is open to all students enrolled at The University of Sydney in the current year, except for previous winners of the Wentworth Medal. The award of the Medal shall be made annually by the Academic Board, provided that there is an entry of sufficient merit.

The topic or topics for the essay will be set, and the examiners of the essay will be appointed by a committee consisting of the Chair of the Academic Board, the Deans of the Faculties of Arts, Economics and Law and the Registrar, with the power to co-opt. The committee reserves the right to share the prize if there are two or more entries adjudged to be of equal, highest and sufficient merit.

The Medal seeks to reward an outstanding essay addressing the nominated question. In assessing the quality of the essay the panel will consider its clarity and accessibility, its originality- specifically its ability to shed new light on the given topic- and the quality of the argument upon which it is constructed. The essay should demonstrate a breadth of research, and be of high scholarly standard, with appropriate referencing.

For: All students enrolled at the University of Sydney in the current year, except for previous winners of the Wentworth Medal.
How much: Medal and $10,000
Topic for 2012: "Privacy is passé"
Length: Approximately 3000 words

How to Apply: Submit your entry with the cover letter to the Scholarships Office.
Applications close: 4:30pm Friday 27 July 2012

Wentworth Medal Winner 2011 decided!

Adriana Edmeades is the winner of the Wentworth Medal 2011. Adriana is currently completing the final year of her undergraduate law degree. She has previously completed an Arts (Advanced) degree at the University of Sydney. She greatly enjoyed her law degree, particularly Criminal Law, Advanced Criminal Law, Criminology, Jurisprudence and each of the public international law subjects she completed throughout. She feels that she was fortunate to have been taught by exceptional academics in each of these subjects.

Adriana has been an active member of the university community. She has been an editor of Honi Soit and Hermes, and has played first and second grade level hockey for Sydney University as well as representing the University of Sydney in hockey at a number of University Games. She has also represented the university at a number of international law moots.

Adriana will shortly start work as the Jessup International Law Moot Coach at the law faculty and as a research assistant to Professor David Kinley, the Chair of Human Rights Law at Sydney Law School.

Adriana was aware of the Wentworth Medal as a friend had won it previously and after many years of reading the entries finally submitted an entry herself. She thought the topic “China’s future is Australia’s future?” was a very relevant and topical question in today’s political environment. The judges considered her essay ‘elegant, nuanced and an informed argument’. Adriana felt deeply honoured to be awarded such a prestigious award, and one with such a long history at the University.

Congratulations Adriana.