Preservice teacher awarded important membership

A preservice Drama teacher with a passion for the arts has been awarded a coveted Drama Queensland full concession membership.

Nicholl Cox, a final-year USQ student, received the prize for initiative through Drama and Education studies.

'I did a lot of dancing when I was growing up and it was the inspiration and influence of my high school teachers that made me decide to become a secondary teacher,' Nicholl said.

'It was great to receive this membership in recognition of the work I’ve achieved as a university student.'

During her time at USQ Nicholl has taken on pro bono work in schools and with young people. She has been commended on her ability to value young people in the arts.

'When I graduate my goal is to create better resources for teachers,' she said.

USQ Creative Arts Head of School, Dr Janet McDonald, congratulated Nicholl on her achievement.

'Nicholl is fearless and she likes teenagers – she’s neither afraid of them nor ashamed of them,' Dr McDonald said.

'What makes her exceptional is her ability to make things simple for everyone – this is rare skill as she does not bring bluster and chaos with her actions and projects, rather, she breathes life into them through her calmness, which hides the enormous amount of preparation that she has done beforehand.'

The 20-year-old Toowoomba resident (formerly from Bundaberg) is the first USQ student to have been offered the membership.

The prize of a full concession membership also includes access to the coveted e-group, the new and improved Musesheet, the quarterly Spotlight and access to various professional development opportunities such as the upcoming Nuts and Bolts Beginning Teacher’s Day.