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Hope Star Awards celebrate outstanding contribution

Staff member receiving an award

Staff and students came together to celebrate the remarkable achievements of the University community at this year’s Hope Star Awards.

Hosted in the impressive Great Hall at the Creative Campus, the annual event, organised by the Liverpool Hope Students’ Union, recognises individuals who make an outstanding contribution to life at the University.

With an overwhelming number of nominations submitted, the awards continue to highlight the dedication, compassion and hard work that define the Hope community. Each winner and nominee has played a part in shaping a positive and supportive environment for both students and colleagues.

Among the staff categories, a wide range of contributions were acknowledged, from excellence in teaching to behind-the-scenes dedication and student support.

This year’s staff award winners were:

Student Awards:

Academic Excellence Award

Winner: Nayshirl Alvares

Honourable Mentions: Isabelle Patterson, Sam Talbot, Valeria Krammer 

Course Representative of the Year

Winner: Matteo Nnalugha 

Honourable Mentions: Pamela Pendleton, Nayshirl Alvares, Hamzah Tahir 

Resilience & Determination Award 

Winner: Cake Nugent 

Honourable Mentions: Pamela Pendleton, Emily Joan Smith, Charlie Whiteside 

Inspirational Student Award 

Winner: Pamela Pendleton 

Honourable Mentions: Pamela Pendleton, Cake Nugent, Lucie Duggan, Lottie Oxenham Babb

Hope Community Student Hero

Winner: Ryan Hardy

Honourable Mentions: Harry Bates, Kate Wall, Pamela Pendleton, UKLA Reading Ambassadors (Molly Owen, Ellie Hibbard, Ellie Stretton)

Rising Scholar Star

Winner: Valeria Krammer 

Sustainability Champion

Winner: Ella Moriarty 

Honourable Mention: Environmental Society 

Creative Champion 

Winner: Madi Haselton 

Honourable Mentions: Maia Henley, Grace Hilley 

Vice President Education Student Awards

Winners: Stephen Williams and Hamzah Tahir 

 

Staff Awards:

Hope Community Hero

  • Winner: Peter Mercer
  • Honourable Mentions: Rev. Julia Pratt, Professor Niamh Malone, Saul Leslie

Heart of the Institution

  • Winner: Dr Alessandra Lotteri
  • Honourable Mentions: Professor Bryce Evans, Thomas Millea, James Leyshon, Jo Whittingham

Beacon of Support

  • Winners: Dr Dave Merryweather & Ellis Fairclough
  • Honourable Mentions: Dr Ana Be Pereira, Nadia Donaldson, Anne-Marie Isherwood

Unsung Hero

  • Winner: Dr Eleanor Rees
  • Honourable Mentions: Jay Mellon & Dale Staniford, Dr Laura Waite, Ian Nelson, Dr Debbie Kobani

Staff Excellence Award

  • Winner: Paula Raper
  • Honourable Mentions: Dr Erin Prichard, Jess Lafferty, Professor Catalina Montoya Londono, Stephen Bird

Excellence in Education Award

  • Winner: Professor Philip Bamber
  • Honourable Mentions: Dr Dave Merryweather, Dr Helen McCartney

Vice President Welfare & Community Award

  • Winner: Dr David Neary

Vice President Education Staff Award

  • Winner: Susan Murray

Published on 07/04/2026