President of the Board of Studies, Tom Alegounarias and President of the Aboriginal Education Consultative Group, Cindy Berwick have announced the 2010 awardees for highest academic achievement and highest academic achievement by an Aboriginal student in the Aboriginal Studies course.

The Board and the AECG each sponsor one award, which were announced at the AECGs annual conference held on 11 - 13 March.

The award winners were:

· Kayla Hannell of Brisbane Waters Secondary College – Woy Woy Campus

· Sheliza Nasser of Cheltenham Girls High School

Mr Alegounarias said that both young women were worthy awardees not just for their academic achievements in Aboriginal Studies, but for manner in which they executed the course.

“Both Kayla and Sheliza produced major projects in which collaboration and sharing were critical components," he said.

“It is very encouraging to see students of this calibre taking on the challenges of the Aboriginal Studies course."

2012 will mark 20 years since the first HSC Aboriginal Studies course first sat exam candidates. In that time, the candidature has grown from less than 90 to more than 350.