Students have been recognised for their outstanding achievements and contributions to their campus and community at the Kent Student Awards 2018.
More than 250 nominations were received and the winners announced at a Gala Dinner held in Eliot College on the Canterbury campus on Friday 1 June, 2018.
The winner in each category receives their own brick on the University’s ‘Footsteps Path‘ on the Canterbury campus, a certificate and a trophy. All finalists will also have their achievement recognised on their Higher Education Achievement Report when they graduate.
The overall Student of the Year award was won jointly by Lily Dedman and Valiant Dorian. Lily Dedman, who studies Sociology with Quantitative Research in the School of Social Policy, Sociology and Social Research (SSPSSR), won for her ‘amazing’ work as Kent Union’s Women’s Officer and for organising a wide range of events including the ‘Reclaim the Night March’ and International Women’s Week.
Valiant Dorian, a third year student in Kent Law School, won for excellent work as the Kent Union LGBT+ Trans Officer, organising key events such as a ‘Fit for LGBT + Trans Swimming’ event and contributing to the University’s new Trans Student Support Policy.
Kent Islamic Society Winners
The Group of the Year winner was the Kent Islamic Society for its work celebrating and supporting the diverse cultures at the University, fundraising for international charities and celebrating multiculturalism at the Cultural Food Fair.
Another notable winner was Sophia Gagliardi, School of Psychology, who won the Outstanding Entrepreneur of the Year Award for starting EcoFeast, an Enactus Kent project that brings together students and the elderly through cooking, with ingredients sourced from supermarkets’ surplus food.
All winners
The full list of winners is:
- Outstanding Contribution to Arts and Culture – Alice Bezant, School of English, for her dedication to arts and culture on campus including her work with T24 Drama Society and the Gulbenkian and as a Royal Opera House Student Ambassador
- Outstanding Contribution to Sports Development (joint winners) Charles Dabbs, School of Politics and International Relations, for his dedication as President of the Kent Knights Ice Hockey Team and building a successful club, which is accessible to all students; and Rebekah Wilinsky, Kent Law School, for teaching disadvantaged children to swim, fundraising for charity and raising awareness of the importance of sports for children
- Outstanding Contribution to the Local Community – Kerry Sildatke, School of Psychology, for playing a key role in establishing ‘Nightline’, a free student-led support and information service for students at the University of Kent and Canterbury Christchurh University
- Outstanding Contribution to the Environment – Miguel Santos, School of Arts, for his commitment to volunteering and work as Environment Officer, including the ‘Our Planet Week’, the Oasis Community Garden project and campaigning for the University to reduce its use of plastic straws
- Outstanding Contribution to Media and Communications – Beyond Brussels Podcast Team, for creating the Beyond Brussels podcast, featuring interviews from individuals in politics, business, economics and media, and providing information about initiatives and research across the University community
- Outstanding International/Multicultural Initiative of the Year – Kent Islamic Society, for their work celebrating and supporting the diverse cultures at the University, fundraising for international charities and celebrating multiculturalism at the Cultural Food Fair
- Outstanding contribution to Equality, Diversity and Inclusivity – (joint winners) Lily Dedman and Valiant Dorian
- Outstanding Contribution to College Life – Turing College Student Committee, for promoting college life in Turing through numerous initiatives, organising events and raising awareness of the college system across the University
- Outstanding Contribution to Fundraising – William Knight, School of Economics, for his dedication as Kent RaG Treasurer, fundraising and raising awareness of men’s mental health including the Movember campaign
- Outstanding Contribution to Academic Communities – Arun Silva, School of Music and Fine Art, for his work as the President of the Music Society, a student rep for the School of Music and Fine Art and a member of the Students at Medway Committee
Highly commended across multiple categories were Phoebe Lionakis, (Local Community and EDI categories) Amy Hunting (Arts & Culture and Media & Communications categories) and the Paris Society (College Life & Academic Communities categories).