By Molly Taylor
A PAIR of former Mount Gambier residents have made history at an Adelaide boarding school by jointly winning a major honour.
St Mark’s College’s highest honour, the Collegians’ Prize, was awarded to both Ben Jenner and Riley Glynn.
The dynamic duo were jointly presented the award at a recent college dinner to mark the end of the academic year.
Since the 1930s, the prestigious title has been awarded to a single individual who has made outstanding contribution to the college, university and the wider community over a period of years.
Mr Jenner and Mr Glynn are the first recipients to jointly win the award, with both previously residing in Mount Gambier and studying at Tenison Woods College.
College head Professor Don Markwell said it was exceptional to see two students have such strong and enthusiastic support for and from fellow students.
“The whole college community warmly congratulates Riley and Ben and looks forward to seeing them make similarly outstanding contributions in their lives and careers after university and college,“ Prof Markwell said.
Mr Jenner and Mr Glynn both started attending St Mark’s College in 2018 studying a bachelor of commerce (accounting) and bachelor of psychological science at the University of Adelaide respectively.
Mr Jenner was active in community service since he arrived and this year was the students’ community service group Charitable Foundation treasurer.
Helping to raise funds for several charities, Mr Jenner has undertaken many community service activities, from Ronald McDonald House and the Leukaemia Foundation to Habitat for Humanity and Landcare.
A considerable role model for other students, Mr Jenner served on the college students’ club committee in 2019 and in 2020 as a residential adviser, providing support to other students in promoting their wellbeing and academic success.
In 2020, Mr Jenner has served as the National Association of Australian University Colleges South Australian state representative.
At the University of Adelaide, Mr Jenner has been a member of the finance society, football club, economics club and the cycling club.
He has also undertaken internships in accounting with major Adelaide accounting firms.
“It is a great honour to receive this award at a college like St Mark’s. I am proud of the values of the college and what it stands for,“ Mr Jenner said.
Mr Jenner said his experiences growing up in Mount Gambier also shaped his university experiences.
“Growing up in a tight-knit community in Mount Gambier and having been very involved in various sporting and other community-based events, I found it easy to become involved in similar activities at St Mark’s,“ he said.
Like Mr Jenner, Mr Glynn has been active in community service work, including volunteering to help with work with the Salvation Army and Zambrero’s programs to help feed homeless people.
Mr Glynn has successfully represented the college in a wide variety of sports including volleyball, football, netball, basketball, table tennis, and athletics, captaining college netball and football teams.
In 2019, Mr Glynn was college male sports officer, leading the organisation of men’s sports for the college.
This year he has acted as the South Australian Association of University College Clubs president, helping organise sporting and other activities between the various university colleges in Adelaide.
Mr Glynn’s student leadership at St Mark’s College saw him elected as the vice-president of the students’ club committee for 2020 and he has also been active in helping with the college buildings, grounds and many other ways.
“It is a big honour and I feel very humbled to be recognised in this way,“ Mr Glynn said.
“I have stayed in touch with old friends (from school), but at St Mark’s you meet people from all over the state and country.”
