Our students can take advantage of several scholarship and award opportunities.
NSW School Nanga Mai Awards
The Nanga Mai Awards are an annual event organised by Aboriginal Education and Communities Directorate. The awards recognise and celebrate innovation, excellence and educational achievement in Aboriginal education in NSW public schools, school communities and department directorates.
Premier’s Spelling Bee
The Premier’s Spelling Bee is an annual competition that encourages primary school students in Years 3 to 6 to develop their spelling skills in a fun and educational way. Students are selected at school level to take part in regional finals. Regional winners then compete in the state final.
Premier’s Reading Challenge
This Premier’s Reading Challenge encourages students from Kindergarten to Year 9 to develop a love of reading and plays an important role in developing literacy.
Premier’s Debating Challenge
The Premier’s Debating Challenge is open to students from Year 5 to 12. Teams compete in a round robin series of debates against other schools. The winners go on to compete at regional and state level to determine the eventual state champion.
Public speaking competitions
The Arts Unit offers public speaking competitions for NSW school students. Each competition is a great opportunity for students to develop their speech-writing and presentation skills while representing their schools in a state-wide competition.
Premier’s Anzac Memorial Scholarships
The Premier’s Anzac Memorial Scholarships are an opportunity to visit significant overseas sites associated with Australia’s participation in war for Years 10 and 11 students in selected schools.
The Duke of Edinburgh's International Award - Australia
The Duke of Edinburgh's International Award - Australia provides an internationally recognised, self-development program for people aged 14 to 25. The program equips young people with the opportunity to undertake a variety of voluntary and challenging activities.
School Based Awards - Presented at the school’s prestigious end of year Presentation Ceremony, annually:
ADF Long Tan Leadership and Teamwork Award
Leadership, teamwork, values, problem solving, resourcefulness, communication, cooperation and community involvement.
Dux Years 7 to 12
Dux of each year group
Barry Coe Award
To a Year 10 student for dedication, loyalty and leadership
Member for Lindsay MP – The Lindsay Award
Students who have shown a determination to succeed
Junior Speaker of the Year
Junior Speaker of the Year
Junior Sportsman Award
Junior Sportsman
Junior Sportswoman Award
Junior Sportswoman
Lamrocks Award
Excellence in Legal Studies
Lauren Broos Visual Arts Award
Year 11 commitment to Visual Arts
Lions Club Junior Citizen of the Year
Citizenship Award for a student in Years 7-9
Premier’s Sporting Challenge Medal
Excellence, involvement and overall contribution to school sport
Principal’s Award
Service to the School or Outstanding Achievement
The Knight Award
Highest ATAR from previous year
The P&C Senior Scholarship Award
A scholarship awarded to high achieving Year 10 student for use in their senior studies
Premier’s ANZAC Memorial Scholarship
ANZAC Scholarship
Victor Chang Year 11 Science Award
Outstanding Achievement in the Sciences
Commitment to Learning Award
Commitment to Learning
Karen McKeown MP All Rounder Award
Excellence in all facets of school life
Sportsman of the Year
Overall Sporting Excellence
Sportswoman of the Year
Overall Sporting Excellence
Distance Runner of the Year
Overall Athletic Excellence in Long Distance Running
Contribution to Swimming
Overall Contribution to Swimming
Year 12 Special Awards - Presented Annually
Awards Provided by Supporters of the School:
- The ADF Long Tan Leadership and Teamwork Award is given to a student who has demonstrated values including leadership, teamwork, co-operation, problem-solving, communication and community involvement
The Alicia Camphuisen Award is awarded to a student for service to human rights and the environment. Alicia was a former student of the school.
The Ampol Best All Rounder Award rewards a student for their participation and excellence across a range of activities, including sport, academic attitude, community work and leadership
The ADFA Education Award is a highly prestigious award presented annually to Year 12 students in recognition of outstanding leadership potential, academic and sporting achievements exhibited in Years 11 and 12
The Lions Club Citizenship Award recognises school service and citizenship
The John Lincoln Award is a youth community service award whereby 20 candidates across NSW are selected and honoured at a special ceremony at Government House Sydney. This award recognises students with an excellent record of community service.
The Macquarie University "Global Leadership Entry Program Prize” recognises the outstanding contribution of a student to their community, leadership qualities and academic merit.
The Pierre de Coubertin Award recognises positive values and excellence in sport and is presented by the Australian Olympic Committee
The Stephen Duclos Award for Outstanding Achievement in Social Sciences is awarded to the student who through perseverance and their awareness of current events and social issues have built a breadth of knowledge and as such have excelled within the Social Sciences. Stephen Duclos was the Head Teacher Social Science from 1997-2014 and Deputy Principal from 2014-2016 before retiring.
The University of Sydney Leadership Award is an award that recognises a student ranked academically within the top 10 of student cohort internally, shows demonstrated commitment to developing and displaying leadership skills within a school context and shows demonstrated high levels of involvement in extracurricular, community and social justice programs
The Wendy De Paoli Excellence in Research Award is awarded to the outstanding HSC research project. Wendy was the Principal of the school from 2000-2010.
The Lamrocks Award recognises student excellence in Legal Studies.
The Reuben F Scarf Award recognises a student’s consistent effort and desire to improve
Recent additions:
The Honourable Penelope Wensley AC FAILA Award for the most proficient female student in HSC English.
An honour board in the school hall celebrates Ms Wensley's achievements and recognises the annual success of Penrith students in HSC English.
Penelope was educated at Penrith High School where she was Captain in 1963. She then attended the University of Queensland and joined the Australian Public Service in 1967, working in the Department of External Affairs in 1967. From 1997 -2001 Penelope became the first woman to be Permanent Representative of Australia to the United Nations in New York.
Penelope was then appointed as the first female Australian High Commissioner to India, a role she held until 2004.When Australia established diplomatic relations with Bhutan in September 2002, Penelope, as High Commissioner in India, was appointed as Australia's first ambassador there from May 2003. From 2005 to 2008, she was Australian Ambassador to France, and non-resident Ambassador to Algeria, Mauritania and Morocco.
On 6 July 2008, Queen Elizabeth II had approved Penelope's appointment as the next Governor of Queensland, she held this position until 2014.
Since 2015, Penelope has served as chair of the Australian Institute of Marine Science Council. She is also chair of the advisory committee for Reef 2050, an advisory body working with the Australian and Queensland governments on a plan to protect and improve the Great Barrier Reef. She also serves on the Board of the Lowy Institute.
Penelope was appointed an Officer of the Order of Australia in 2001, a Dame of the Order of St John in 2008, a Grand Officer of the National Order of Merit by the French government in 2009, and was advanced to Companion of the Order of Australia in 2011.
In 2016, the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade named one of its 16 meeting rooms in her honour, in recognition of her work as a pioneering female diplomat.
The Sami Azmol Award for the top student in HSC Economics or Business Studies.
Mr. Sami Azmol (Class of 2001) passed away suddenly in December 2020 from a severe heart attack after being at the gym. Sami was a highly valued member of the class of 2001. A Chartered Accountant and graduate from Macquarie University, he was working as the Finance Performance Reporting Manager at Royal Prince Alfred Hospital (A particularly complex role during COVID and the financial pressures that it presented for the health system). Prior to this role, Sami worked in senior financial positions in London for four years in large corporations. This award is sponsored for 10 years (2021-2030) by Chartered Accountants Australia and New Zealand.
Presented annually, the recipient will receive a certificate and $300 prize. A plaque in the school library celebrates Sami's life and contribution to the school and wider community.
The Linda Burney MP Award for a student who is recognised as having been widely and positively involved in fostering a connection to culture.
An honour board in the school hall celebrates Ms Burney’s achievements and recognises the commitment of Penrith students in celebrating and recognising culture.
This prize is awarded annually to a student who is recognised as having been widely and positively involved in fostering a connection to culture. Hon Linda Burney MP. A graduate of Penrith High School, Ms Burney began her career as a school teacher before becoming the first Aboriginal person in NSW Parliament, holding the seat of Canterbury for 14 years. In 2016, Burney was elected federal member for Barton and became the first Indigenous woman to sit in the House of Representatives. Burney was appointed Minister for Indigenous Australians in the Albanese ministry in 2022, and is the first woman who identifies as Aboriginal to serve in that position.
The Matthew McCarron Library Award
To recognise and pay homage to 1998 School Captain, Matthew McCarron, following a generous donation from his peers, the school has established The Matthew McCarron Library Award. Matthew sadly passed away after bravely battling cancer.
The Library Award is awarded to a student in Year 7, 8, 9 and 10 who shows an interest and commitment towards reading.