The great and the good at Liverpool Hope University have been recognised with the annual Hope Star Excellence Awards 2021.
The ceremony aims to celebrate students, staff and societies who go above and beyond their duties to make Hope a better place.
Organised by the Students’ Union, winners were nominated by the wider Hope student family with the awards ultimately handed-out by a judging panel that included Harry Pearce, SU President, Sally Wills, SU Vice President of Community and Welfare, Aaron Gibson, Chair of SU Executive Council, and Khurrum Dar, Union Development Manager.
And while the Hope Star bash was forced to move online for the first time ever this year, owing to Covid-19 restrictions, it didn’t stop Harry Pearce, SU President, praising the ‘positive impact’ staff and students have had in what has been a ‘difficult and challenging year’.
Harry added: “This awards ceremony is our way of recognising the great work that is done by staff and students to make our University such a wonderful place to study and work.
“The sheer volume of nominations for this year’s award ceremony has really impressed me. Four hundred and twelve people have been nominated across the thirteen categories and I am proud to say I have sat and read through each and every one, with a huge smile on my face and feeling proud that I am a part of the Hope community.
“Also, proud that despite being in the midst of a global pandemic, our community spirit is still so strong.”
This year saw both winners and ‘honourable mentions’ receiving a specially-created certificate.
Among the winners were History student Louise Lacey, who received the ‘Inspirational Student Award’ - reserved for those who volunteer in the local community, support their peers, or who overcome personal barriers to achieve academic excellence.
Chris Biggs, Senior Careers Advisor at Hope in the Student Development and Well-being department, came home with the ‘Student Opportunities Award’, thanks to his crucial work supporting student and graduate employability.
Dr Laura Waite, Senior Lecturer in Disability Studies at Hope and who recently came out in support of care workers in this impassioned news piece, was handed the ‘Supportive Tutor’ gong, which is presented to the ‘academic staff member who has provided the best support and encouragement to their students in this most difficult of years’.
Miss Tracey Ramsey, Professional Tutor in Youth and Community Work, picked up the ‘Inspiration Award’ - a prize that recognises that ‘great teachers are not just those who impart knowledge but also those who raise the horizons of their students’.
Meanwhile Lilly Nelson, Chaplaincy Assistant at Hope, was awarded the ‘Hope Community Hero’ certificate, fresh from her work helping to establish the new Hope Community Engagement Team, and having recently hosted a lockdown film club.
President Harry Pearce added: “I would like to offer my personal congratulations to not only the winners of the awards, but also everyone who has been nominated.”
Full list of winners and honourable mentions:
President’s Award
Inclusive Practice Working Group:
Caroline Pike, Marie Caslin, Ana Be Pereira, Jacqueline Whittle, Elpiniki Smith
Innovation Award
Winner: Nicholas Garron
Honourable mentions: Joanne Lewis, Sandra Hiett
Student Opportunities
Winner: Chris Biggs
Honourable mentions: Harriett Pattison, Richard Webb
Supportive Tutor
Winner Laura Waite.
Honourable mentions: Ana Be Pereira, Marie Caslin
Supportive Staff
Winner: Anne Marie-Isherwood
Honourable mentions: Rob Cunningham, Niall Doherty
Thinkers Award
Winner: John Tilson
Honourable mentions: Yvonne Ward, Joanne Lewis
Inspiration Award
Winner: Tracy Ramsey
Honourable mentions: John Grant, Babs Anderson
Hope Community Hero
Winner: Lilly Nelson
Honourable mentions: Laura Waite, Rose Devereux
Equality, Diversity and Inclusion
Winner: Nicola Howard
Honourable mentions: Louisa- Patterson Brown, Abigail Lavers
Inspirational Student
Winner: Louise Lacey
Honourable mentions: Poppy Euesden, Ifan Dafydd, Sarah Clarke
Course Rep of the year
Winner: John Raftery
Honourable mentions: Daniel Shankland, Megan Rowley
Fundraiser of the Year
Winners: Cameron Sharp, Kieran Goodwin
Honourable mentions: Islamic Society, Ewan Stannard
Contribution to Inclusivity
Winner: International Relations Society
Honourable mentions: British Sign Language, Disability Studies Society
Society of the Year
Winner: Drama Society
Honourable mentions: International Relations, British Sign Language
Sports team of the Year
Winner: Men’s Rugby
Honourable mentions: Ladies GAA, Netball