St Mary’s Celebrate Students Volunteering Success

The School of Sport, Health, and Applied Science (SHAS) at St Mary’s University, Twickenham came together recently to honour the success and hard work of students on their voluntary placements.

St Mary’s encourage students to take up volunteering opportunities in roles linked to their field of study to gain valuable employability skills. Students were nominated by their placement providers through a full range of placements from clinical, coaching, research and nutrition, such as volunteering with man with a pan, the Universities own programme helping the elderly in the local community plan and cook nutritious meals.

At an awards dinner in the University’s prestigious Waldegrave Drawing Room, staff and partner organisations came together to celebrate the performance of students on their placements.

The evening began with a welcome from Deputy Head of School, Ann Kennedy, before a three-course dinner where nominees were able to share stories about their placements and network.

Senior members of staff at St Mary’s then presented awards to the nominees, including Pro-Vice Chancellor Prof John Charmley, Senior Director of Global Engagement Mark Sudbury, Senior Director of People Jo Blunden, and Students’ Union President Zander Lavall.

Awards were given in six categories to recognise all the ways in which students demonstrated excellence and professionalism on their voluntary placements.

This year’s award winners are:

Excellence Award – Lucy Redhouse & Mel O’Neill

High Flyer Award – Dan Loder

Entrepreneurship Award – Valeria Gaglione

Values Award – Polly Hopper

Vice Chancellor’s Award for Knowledge Transfer – Megan Smith

Vice Chancellor’s Award for Professional Conduct – Caitlin Darke