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)