Newcastle University Awards

CAREERS SERVICE About For Employers Events Student and Graduate Stories Contact Us MyCareer Logo Explore your options Gain skills and experience Find jobs Work for yourself Making applications Support and resources Search... Search... Newcastle University Awards The Newcastle University Awards recognise your achievements and contribution to university life and the wider community. Newcastle University Careers Service Gain skills and experience Awards, competitions and funding Newcastle University Awards On this page About 2025 Shortlist 2025 Runner ups 2025 Winners About These awards acknowledge students involved in extra-curricular activities, including: clubs societies volunteering fundraising starting a new business representing students working on campus or beyond. If you are a winner at any of the Celebrating Success Awards, you may be eligible to attend the Newcastle University Awards. You'll then be invited to an event where awards are presented before an audience of students, university staff, graduate recruiters and city leaders. If you are an Undergraduate or Postgraduate Taught award winner, you will also receive formal recognition of your award on your degree transcript. Entry requirements Judging criteria Prizes 2025 Shortlist Congratulations to all students who have made it into this year's shortlist. View the students who have been nominated below.  Outstanding Contribution to Arts, Media & Culture  Outstanding Contribution to Sport Outstanding Contribution to Lifelong Health & Wellbeing Outstanding Contribution to Sustainability & Environmental Justice Outstanding Contribution to the Student Voice Outstanding Contribution to the Workplace Outstanding Global, Intercultural & EDI Contribution Outstanding Social and Civic Contribution 2025 Runner ups Outstanding Contribution to Arts, Media and Culture British Sign Language Society and Pole & Aerial Club The British Sign Language Society and Pole & Aerial Club collaborated on “Flex Like Nobody’s Watching”, a flexibility and contortion workshop led by blind circus artist Rachael Storey, aka Blind Fury. The event aimed to create an inclusive space and bring together students of all backgrounds and abilities, including many with disabilities as well as individuals with no prior experience, and invite them to focus on self-acceptance and celebrating sensory differences. Due to overwhelmingly positive feedback, they are already planning future events together.    Outstanding Contribution to Lifelong Health and Wellbeing Asian Medical Students’ Association (AMSA) AMSA NUMed has showcased exceptional leadership and commitment throughout the year by organising over 20 events, the highest among all societies at NUMed. Their dedication to engaging and enriching the student experience is evident in our consistent efforts to host at least 2-3 events each month, embodying our motto of "Building Bridges, Sharing Dreams" and their aims of knowledge, action, and friendship. A significant highlight was successfully hosting the Medics Intervarsity Games (MIVG) 2024, attracting 1,912 participants from 26 universities across the country.  Outstanding Contribution to Sport Etienne Maughan The 2024 season started well for Etienne with personal best performances during the indoor season which saw her make the final of the British Senior championship for the first time. She also won the silver medal at a competitive Southern Senior championship but missed out on a podium place at the BUCS indoor championship. This disappointment fueled her resolve, and she rectified this by winning the BUCS outdoor championship in May. She ended the season ranked in the top 10 in the country.   Outstanding Contribution to the Student Voice   Rania Ezellya, CSA Award Winner for: Students for Students Award (NUMed Awards)  Rania has shown her passion both within the NUMed community and outside the NUMed community. Within NUMed, she has executed various events under AMSA, MIVG focusing on sports, AMSEP an exchange program, and Oral Health Camp with KKM for community service. She also cares about student welfare by being the Student Rep for year 3 and being the Head of Student Welfare in the Student Association. She is also active in attending open days as a Student Ambassador, was a Librarian Aide, and is involved in research as the Secretary of NUMed Research Society. Outside NUMed, she played a key role in public health advocacy as a Liaison Officer and current initiative deputy director for Malaysian Medics International Public Health.  Outstanding Contribution to the Workplace     Akash Dahiya Akash completed his internship with Tyneside and Northumberland Mind, developing data pathways, a key area of focus for the charity. His approach fundamentally reshaped how they utilise data, enhancing financial tracking, improving the management of volunteering hours, ensuring GDPR compliance, and enabling more targeted and effective fundraising campaigns.   Far exceeding this, Akash’s work has created the foundation for a framework that can be replicated across different departments, saving time, and costs, and driving greater impact which is undoubtedly invaluable in their work. Akash hasn’t just solved a troublesome data challenge but has provided a pathway for sustainable growth for the charity and enhanced donor relationships.    Tasha Fell It is rare to see a placement student have such a transformational impact. Tasha has far exceeded expectations, taking on responsibilities with initiative, creativity, and strategic thinking at a level well beyond what would typically be expected.  The panel was impressed by her most significant achievements, including leading a complete overhaul of the organisation’s blog and SEO strategy and leading Black Friday and Christmas email marketing campaigns, single-handedly generating £8,000 in sales. She has fundamentally improved their content strategy, strengthened their marketing efforts, and delivered real business value. Tasha has been an absolute asset to their team, and we truly believe she is deserving of this award.   Outstanding Global, Intercultural and EDI Contribution     Marrow Society Newcastle Marrow Society is truly doing groundbreaking work, making a real, life-saving impact. Since September, they’ve recruited 825 potential stem cell donors, raised over £2,500 for the Anthony Nolan charity, and supported urgent patient appeals. They have partnered with other clubs and societies to run their collaborative “Swabathons”, as well as awareness campaigns, especially highlighting the need for ethnic minority donors.    Outstanding Social and Civic Contribution Myka Lockhart During her time at university, Myka has been involved in several initiatives and has been a great support and inspiration to the students she has volunteered with. Her commitment to equality has made the Combined Honours Society one of the most inclusive and popular on campus and she is a valued peer mentor within her school. She has helped tutor children in local schools, delivered fun micro-volunteering sessions to students on campus, and successfully led the SciFair 25 project helping to inspire young people to want to come to university and go on to STEM-focused careers.   2025 Winners Outstanding Contribution to Arts, Media and Culture Adam Lovegrove  From commentating at Fight Night for NUTV, hosting a radio show, and helping at the Freshers gazebo and with the StuBrew collaboration, to writing 40+ articles for The Courier covering a range of topics, always completing editing on time, and helping with creative careers and elections special edition spreads. There quite literally isn't a part of Student Media that Adam hasn't helped with. His impact spreads across all sections of our community and is felt by everyone, Adam’s peers have said Student Media would not be what it is without him.    Outstanding Contribution to Lifelong Health and Wellbeing BrushUp Over the past year, BrushUp has gone above and beyond by not only visiting numerous primary schools but also forming impactful partnerships, such as their collaboration with Wallsend Children’s Community Centre. Through this initiative, they have distributed over 300 free oral hygiene packs, including toothbrushes, toothpaste, and essential oral care information to children in deprived areas who are often in urgent need of dental care.   Outstanding Contribution to Sport Korfball Club, CSA Award Winner for: Most Improved Club of the Year (Athletic Union Awards)  This year marks the most successful in Newcastle Korfball Club’s history, demonstrating exceptional growth, ambition, and sporting excellence. From once struggling to field a team, the club has expanded to over 60 members, three BUCS teams, and an undefeated position in the local NEKA league. The 1st team achieved its highest-ever BUCS Nationals seeding, securing 1st place at Prelims and 3rd at Regionals, while the 2nd team made history by qualifying for BUCS Shield for the first time. This remarkable transformation, underpinned by dedication, inclusivity, and competitive success, makes Newcastle Korfball Club a distinguished candidate for the Contribution to Sport award.   Outstanding Contribution to Sustainability and Environmental Justice Ella Spray, CSA Award Winner for: Sustainability Superhero Award (Community Impact Awards)  Ella has coordinated the Plant-Based Universities campaign here at Newcastle University and she's done an incredible job recruiting students, campaigning, and running socials. Without even having an official role at NUSU, she passed a motion to ensure that all non-ticketed NUSU events serve 100% plant-based food, and they have spoken at and helped plan the recent 'Hope not Heat' event, a cross-society environmentalist event to spread positivity around what we can do to solve climate change.    Outstanding Contribution to the Student Voice   Sohaila Marmoush, CSA Award Winner for: Breaking Barriers Award (Community Impact Awards)  Sohaila has consistently taken the initiative this year to create inclusive and impactful spaces for Muslim students on campus. Through leading the ISoc Radio Show, she helped bring important conversations to the forefront and gave a platform to voices that are often underrepresented. She’s also played a key role in projects like the Ramadan stall and the Big Sis programme, both of which have helped build a stronger sense of community and support among students. Her involvement in organising alumni talks has also helped bridge the gap between current students and graduates, giving valuable insight and guidance. Her work speaks for itself and has genuinely made a difference.   Outstanding Contribution to the Workplace     Samuel Carr, CSA Award Winner for: Placement Student of the Year – large business (Contribution to the Workplace Awards)  One of Sam’s most notable accomplishments was identifying £5.39 million in supplier overcharges. By meticulously reviewing supplier invoices and contracts, he was able to uncover discrepancies and unfavourable clauses which had previously gone unnoticed and unaffected for 16 years. Sam’s impact led to the company saving close to £1 million enabling funds to be allocated more efficiently on projects which seek to drive the company forward. We are consistently blown away by his innovative contributions, one of which was the ideation and development of a tool to prevent supplier overcharges in the future. His analysis will be used directly in CEO-level negotiations which truly shows the impact Sam has had.  Outstanding Global, Intercultural and EDI Contribution     Disability, Mental Health and Neurodiversity Society, CSA Award Winner for: Representative Society of the Year (Societies Awards)  The Disability, Mental Health and Neurodiversity Society have gone above and beyond in representing and uplifting marginalised voices on campus. Run by disabled students for disabled students, the society has created a welcoming and accessible space through the running of low-effort yet enjoyable socials such as coffee mornings and craft events. They’ve expanded representation by adding a Mental Health Rep, Physical Disability Rep, and Neurodiversity Rep to their constitution. Their impactful campaign to destigmatise OCD, Bipolar, and Schizophrenia reached students and staff across campus and encouraged students to find a community within the society, while fundraising for charity.    Outstanding Social and Civic Contribution Jaeden Birchall, CSA Award Winner for: Individual Outstanding Contribution (Societies Awards)  Jaeden is an exceptional leader whose dedication has had a transformative impact on both the Disability Mental Health and Neurodiversity Society and the LGBTQ+ Society. Organising over 28 events, he ensures every member feels welcome and supported. He spearheaded impactful campaigns on mental health and LGBTQ+ issues, and played a key role in events like the Be:Trans Transgender Remembrance Day Vigil. Jaeden’s work has extended to creating accessible event guidelines and supporting trans and non-binary students, making him an inspiring changemaker for both communities.   Competitions The ncl+ Award