The 38-year-old Otago Girls' High School biology, science and French teacher plans to use the funding to travel to the south of France, where he hopes to learn more about human evolution by studying cave paintings there and in other parts of Europe.
''While I'm in France, I figure I'll be able to do a French language immersion course.
''I think it will be a good experience to see the real thing ... There's only so much you can learn from a text book or the internet.
''It will ignite the imagination. I can say I've been there, I've seen the real thing - see where they've dug up the fossils.
''I feel humbled, honoured and pretty excited about it.''
The fellowship was awarded to Mr Richards by the Otago Girls' High School board of trustees, for his contribution to the school.
It will provide him with an extended professional development opportunity that will benefit the school and himself.
Mr Richards has been teaching at the school since 2003, and is widely involved in the school's running.
He enjoys exploring and sharing the potential of e-learning with other teachers and is the MUSAC administrator, which requires him to support staff with managing data and assisting with the production of pupil reports.
This year, he has taken charge of sport and his first XI football team qualified for nationals this year and was runner-up in the Football Lotto Sportswear tournament during winter tournament week.
Mr Richards is also a talented athlete and gymnast, and has been a previous winner of the school's Dancing with the Staff competition, for his dance rendition of Miley Cyrus' Wrecking Ball.
