The University of South Australia and its Academic Units are committed to supporting the academic success of its highest achieving Aboriginal student(s) at the competition of a bachelor’s degree.
The Tappa Tangka Manninendi is awarded annually to the Aboriginal student upon completion of any bachelor’s degree from the University of South Australia and, in the year of the award who has the highest cumulative Grade Point Average in a program leading to that degree.
Tappa Tangka Manninendi was conceived of as ‘pathways to excellence’, a motto adopted by the then Dean of Aboriginal and Islander Studies Colin Bourke. It is derived from tapa ‘pathway; road’ + tangka ‘liver’ + marnirninthi ‘getting better; improving’. The phrase tangka marnirninthi translates as ‘to alter the mind for the better; to get an appetite; show inclination for’.
| Year | Name | Degree |
|---|---|---|
| 2001 | Eliza Marie Wilson | Bachelor of Visual Arts (Hons) |
| 2002 | Natasha Sheree Ansell | Bachelor of Arts (Aboriginal Policy and Management) |
| 2003 | Sarah Blom | Bachelor of Early Childhood Education |
| 2004 | Erin Lorna Furlong | Bachelor of Applied Science (Occupational Therapy) |
| 2005 | Alison Michelle Hughes | Bachelor of Applied Science (Biodiversity, Environmental and Park Management) |
| 2006 | Judith Matilda Alice Felton | Bachelor of Education (Primary and Middle) (Hons) |
| 2007 | NOT AWARDED | NOT AWARDED |
| 2008 | Pat Waria-Read | Bachelor of Education (Adult, Vocational and Workplace Learning) |
| 2009 | Jessica Tsimeris | Bachelor of Computer Science (Hons) |
| 2010 | Bianca Chaptini | Bachelor of Marketing and Communication |
| 2011 | Skye Akbar | Bachelor of Management (Hons) |
| 2012 | Edoardo Crismani | Bachelor of Media Arts |
| Thomas Farren | Bachelor Engineering (Civil and Structural) (Hons) | |
| Mark Osborne | Bachelor of Arts (Aboriginal Studies) | |
| 2013 | Amy Pfitzner | Bachelor of Visual Arts (Photography) |
| 2014 | Amanda Lynch | Bachelor of Social Work/Bachelor of Arts (Indigenous Cultures & Australian Society) |
| 2015 | Kim Edwards | Bachelor of Management |
| 2016 | NOT AWARDED | NOT AWARDED |
| 2017 | NOT AWARDED | NOT AWARDED |
| 2018 | NOT AWARDED | NOT AWARDED |
| 2019 | Rachael Nalty | Bachelor of Education |
| 2020 | Arabella Hart | Bachelor of Pharmacy (Honours) |
| 2021 | Thomas Abbott | Bachelor of Construction Management (Honours) |
| 2022 | Dominic Barry | Bachelor of Psychology (Honours) |
