Jessica Murray
Inspirational Individual Award
What they did:
The student returned to higher education as a mature student. The student had three young children with a range of additional needs and instantly appeared to adapt to the demands of being a student, a parent, and holding a number of placements in the sector. In the first year the student was the student rep and worked well with their peers to make sure that their voice was heard. From the very first module the student inspired, demonstrating an exceptional ability to manage time, support others, and complete anything set to the best of their ability. The student has an approachable caring nature which means that others gravitate towards them for support and they often advise others both formally (to the level 4 and 5 groups) and informally to their own group. The student has been offered a place on postgraduate teacher training and has shared their experience with others.
What was the impact?
The student is inspiring others in her group and is broadening the options of those in other groups by sharing her experiences.
How it inspired others
Others have also applied, intend to apply for postgraduate education. Students are seeking additional placement opportunities and seeing the value in placement.
Emmy Hornby
Student Voice Award
What they did:
The student has a diagnosis of autism and has pushed themselves to develop their professional and interpersonal skills with confidence through their role as the student representative. The student is in their first year of their degree and very quickly established themselves as an advocate for collecting, sharing and representing the student voice. They are the student representative and have provided collective feedback at all available opportunities and will also seek additional opportunities to provide feedback too. At the end of semester one the student sent a message of thanks to the team stating that we are ‘amazing!’ and sharing that they couldn’t ask for more supportive lecturers. An additional thank you was provided for allowing the student to be the best version of themselves and allowing them to succeed. However, the thanks should be to them for showing us how to be the supportive lecturers that they need which is a result of them sharing the best version of themselves when they actively advocate for themselves and for others.
What was the impact?
The student has shared there voice and the collective voice of other to advocate small changes that could make a big difference
How it inspired others
The student inspires others by showing that they are actively advocating the voice of others.
Christabel Coffey
Leadership Award
What they did:
This student has shown consistent leadership and impact over three years, having been a student representative for the duration. During this time, they have given peers a voice and agency. Valued by other students and staff within the college community, the learner has been an integral part of the effort to identify and work with a women’s charity in the local area as part of community engagement. Additionally, they have been a dedicated peer mentor. Juggling work with academic study, this learner has consistently demonstrated conscientiousness, dedication and hard work.
What was the impact?
This learner’s impact has been the difference they made to their peers’ confidence, sense of belonging and ability to achieve. There is also a community impact aspect to the student’s efforts in leading her peers in charitable work. That is impact beyond the classroom.
How it inspired others
The learner has persuaded others to come on board the community engagement project and their peer mentoring has encouraged others to keep going.