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Beacon Awards Shortlists
If you are shortlisted you will receive an invitation to the awards, and if your student group has been shortlisted, your chair will receive the invitation. It would be great to see as many of you there as possible to support everyone as the results are announced.
Shortlists
Outstanding Contribution Award 2024

Awarded to a student or a student group that have continually shown commitment and passion to improve the experience for students at the University of Plymouth.

  • Joshua Akinde
  • Ellesha Hatch
  • Global Plymouth
  • Student Action for Refugees (STAR)
  • Emily Schenk & Francesca Kenna
  • Amelia McCabe
Activity of the Year Award 2024

Awarded to an individual or group who has shown commitment and enthusiasm for a project or event that has run this academic year. The outstanding and successful project or event could be ongoing or a one off. The winner will clearly show how the work they have done by putting on the project / event it has made had a positive impact for students.

  • Swimming, Synchro and Water Polo Club (UPSSWPC)
  • Student Action for Refugees (STAR Plymouth)
  • University of Plymouth Dance Club (UPDC)
  • Plymouth University Sikh Society
Staff Choice Award 2024

Staff work with students throughout the year across the institution and recognising commitment and contribution of a student that has made a positive difference within the university community. This award is chosen by the staff at the SU and University who work closely with students across a variety of activities, and they see the effort and passion students put into helping others and making a difference.

  • Iga Wieczorek
  • Women's Rugby
  • Guy Ludford
Fundraiser of the Year Award

Awarded to an individual or group who has made a significant contribution to a particular charity or charities. Through the projects and events they have worked on they will have shown their commitment to raising money to help other people in need.

  • University Of Plymouth Big Band
  • Plymouth Night Patrol
  • University of Plymouth Dance Club (UPDC)
Student Representative of the Year Award 2024

Awarded to a student academic representative who has continually shown commitment and focus to help strengthen the voice of students. The winner of this award will have made time for students, used appropriate and tailored methods to proactively collect students' feedback – feeding the outcome back to the students they represent.

  • Emily Akister
  • Heidi Pope
  • Samuel Fortmann
  • Samuel Oloche
Community Contribution Award 2024

Awarded to recognise the amazing work of student volunteers who make a positive impact on the local community. This award goes to an individual or group who has demonstrated that they have made a difference in the local community. This individual or group has also shown a high level of commitment and enthusiasm to help other people.

  • Student Action for Refugees Plymouth (STAR Plymouth)
  • Anthony Haynes
  • Matthew Turley
  • SLV Special Olympics
  • Global Plymouth lead by Dr Poorna Gunasekera
Society of the Year Award 2024

Awarded to a student group who has demonstrated professionalism, outstanding achievements and team working across the academic year. They will have demonstrated a positive impact of the work they do for their members. This group has consistently shown their commitment by either supporting or running activities in addition to being professional in their attitude whilst achieving great things.

  • K-POP society
  • SwitchUP
  • Big Band
  • Book Club
  • Crochet and Knit society
  • Plymouth Indian society
Sports Club of the Year Award 2024

Awarded to a sports club who has demonstrated professionalism, outstanding achievements and team working across the academic year. They will have demonstrated a positive impact of the work they do for their members. This group has consistently shown their commitment by either supporting or running activities in addition to being professional in their attitude whilst achieving great things.

  • Adventure and Expedition
  • Lacrosse
  • Ladies Hockey
  • Netball Club
  • Pole Dance
  • University of Plymouth Dance Club
Sports Person of the Year Award 2024

Awarded to a person who has demonstrated excellence, growth and impact within their respective sport. This person would have competed or performed at an elite level within their discipline with making an impact on ability within that sport club. As well as this, this individual will have shown commitment and resilience over the academic year and perform highly within their sport. As an extra, they also will have supported their respective clubs with development of other members in their sport.

  • Elizabeth Harrison
  • Ellen Keirle
  • Eloise White
  • James Stansbury
  • Marilyn Wong
  • Paige Flower
Resilience Award 2024

Awarded to a student that has faced significant challenges this year but has shown strength and resilience to persevere and achieve in face of challenges.

  • Chloe Peters
  • Hanna Biju Shamna
  • Katie Edmunds
  • Leila Tejeiro-Mason
  • Veronika Novak
  • Jenna Wigley
Inspirational Teaching of the Year Award 2024

This award is for a staff member or team who show passion and enthusiasm for teaching and inspires their students to be the best they can be. They make time for students and treat them as individuals, show a willingness to listen and champion student development in their chosen field.

  • Adam Kyte
  • Boikhutso Shianyana
  • Claire Fitzpatrick
  • Dr Lee Durndell
  • Dr Paul Laurance-Young
  • Ian S Howard
  • James Gregory
  • Min Wild
  • Rich Boden
Academic Support Staff of the Year Award 2024

Awarded to a staff member who has gone above and beyond in their job to support students throughout their time at university. This award recognises those members of academic staff, be that a personal tutor, programme lead or lecturer, who, in any shape or form, aid students to make their lives and their student experience better.

  • Dr. Poorna Gunasekara
  • Dr Alex Wilson
  • Angela Thompson
  • Emma Macleod-Johnstone
  • Paul Cumbers
  • Stephen Grimes
Supervisor of the Year Award 2024

Awarded to a university staff member who has helped students to navigate through the challenge of a dissertation, thesis or major project. Completing a large project, dissertation or research project can be one of the biggest sources of stress for a student, the award goes to a member of staff who has been by your side to support and guide you throughout.

  • Matthew Banton
  • Katherine Herborn
  • Dr Alison Warren
  • Dr Chiara Boschetti
  • Jameson Tucker
  • Russell Evans
  • Ian S Howard
Support Staff of the Year Award 2024

This award recognises those members of support staff who, in any shape or form, aid students to make their lives and their student experience better. Be it a technician in your Faculty or a staff member from Disability Assist, International Advice Service, The Writing Café, PALS or elsewhere, these individuals can truly be one in a million.

  • Phillipp Grote
  • Holly Randall
  • Richard Hartley
  • Jodie Fisher
  • Becky Thomas
Half Colours 2024

Awarded to students in recognition of excellent performance or commitment within a student club or society.

  • Aaron Cheung
  • Abbie Brockway
  • Amelia McCabe
  • Cameron Smiley
  • Caroline Brown
  • Daniel Carney
  • Elizabeth Harrison
  • Ellie Brindley
  • Ellie Cherrington
  • Emily Digman
  • Finlay Roe
  • Finley Dunk
  • Frances Burdett
  • Guy Ludford
  • Henry Bennett
  • Jack Slator
  • Joe McLachlan
  • Joshua Le Pla
  • Katie Fryett
  • Kayleigh Banyard
  • Lucy Howling
  • Martha Griffiths
  • Megan Letchford
  • Millie McCabe
  • Niamh Blundell
  • Nicole Bennett
  • Olivia Holmes
  • Paige Flower
  • Rebecca Cartwright
  • Saffron Vanderkolk-Pellow
  • Sophie Philips
  • Thomas O'Brien
  • Tom Condon
  • Uthsara Dissanayake
Full Colours 2024

Awarded to student who have achieved half colours in recognition of excellent performance or commitment within a student club or society. This is an award chosen by student groups.

  • Matthew Oram
  • Isabelle Tucker
  • James Stansbury