Wednesday 03-05-2017 - 11:22

Over 120 staff, students and guests attended the first ever SU Awards 2017 for an evening of food, drinks and to celebrate the success of staff and students throughout the year! Highlights of the night include Best Lecturer, Most Valuable Player, President’s Award, Team of the Year and Society of the Year. 

The evening was kicked off with opening remarks by WGSU CEO Sarah Ellis highlighting the important work the SU have achieved throughout the year. This was followed by a remarkable speech by WGU Vice Chancellor Professor Maria Hinfelaar who described WGSU as the best Students’ Union that she had come across. The first awards of the evening went to the Best Lecturers of 2017. 

 

 

 

 But the most memorable award of the evening goes to the Proud Moment Award 2017! This award is awarded by the Vice President of the SU to the student who has achieved something they feel is their proudest moment to date. The winner of this award went to first year Youth and Community student Byron Ford. Byron spent most of his childhood practically unable to speak do to a stammer. He sought professional help on numerous occasions but realised he needed to tackle this barrier in order to read a bed time story to his little girl. After joining the McGuire programme five years ago, Bryon was able to control his stammer and this gave him the confidence to enrol at Wrexham Glyndwr University, something he is extremely proud of. Upon accepting his award, Byron received a standing ovation in what was an emotional moment during the evening.

The Annual Varsity video was also shown for the first time adding such a buzz to the evening. You can view the video HERE

 

 Emily Karim, Students’ Union President agrees that the night was one to remember. “The evening was fantastic. I would like to thank the SU staff team for their dedication in making the evening such a success. It was professional, emotional and everything ran so smoothly. I was delighted to have awarded History student Lucy Griffiths the President’s Award for her volunteering work with the Anthony Nolan Trust in trying to find a bone marrow donor for her friend Kelly who is also a student at WGU. I also want to congratulate everyone who was shortlisted and who won on the evening”

A big thanks to theatre student Mark Ryan Hughes who was the compare for the evening and to Sarah Davies from WGSU Open Mic Society for the entertainment.

 

 

 

 A list of the winners below were nominated by students and decided by a panel of judges. 

Best Lecturer 2017

School of Life Sciences – Gemma Jones, Complimentary Therapies

School of Creative Arts – John McClenaghen, Fine Art

North Wales Business School – Claire Blanchard

School of Applied Science, Computing and Engineering - Amy Rattenbury, Forensic Science

 

Best Personal Tutor 2017

School of Life Sciences – Emyr Williams, Psychology

School of Creative Arts – Paul Jones, Fine Art

North Wales Business School – Neil Pritchard

School of Applied Science, Computing and Engineering – Colin Stuhlfelder, Built Environment

Course Rep of the Year 2017

School of Life Sciences – Adam Street, Psychology

School of Creative Arts – Jade Baron, Broadcasting, Journalism and Media Communications

North Wales Business School – Taylor Dowell, Business Studies

School of Applied Science - Cameron Elms, Forensic Science

Student Council Member of the Year 2017 – Tamara Poli (Psychology), School Rep for the School of Life Sciences

Proud moment ward – Byron Ford, Youth and Community

President’s Award 2017 – Lucy Griffiths, History

 

Sport Awards 2017:

Team of the Year: Men’s Basketball 1^st

Coach of the Year: Kieran Irwin - Men’s Football

Player of the Year: Male: Anthony Smith – Men’s Football 1^st

Player of the Year: Female: Stephanie Jones – Netball 1^st

Most Valuable Player: Kieran Jones – Men’s Rugby Union 1^st

Most Promising Newcomer: Ethan Prosser – Men’s Rugby Union 1^st

 

Society Awards 2017:

Society of the Year: Open Mic Society

Most Improved Society: Botanical Society

Best New Society: Criminology Society

Society Contribution/Collaboration: Sustainability Society