The Student Experience Awards honours the incredible individuals who make UWE Bristol a better place to be. This special event celebrates students and staff who go above and beyond to enhance academic experiences, build community, and support the wellbeing of those around them.

This year’s celebration took place on Tuesday 6^th May at the stunning The Mount Without – one of Bristol’s most unique and atmospheric venues – which provided the perfect setting for an evening of glitz, glam, reflection and recognition.

Hosted by VP Education – Khadiza Hossain and VP Community & Welfare – Lubyna Gardezi, the ceremony brought students and staff together to celebrate the power of partnership.
 

  

We celebrated the work of our dedicated Sustainability Committee, our wonderful Welfare Committee, and our superstar Student Reps. Together, we reflected on the milestones we've reached this year, shared a delicious locally sourced meal from Kate’s Kitchen, and of course, revealed the winners of this year’s awards.

Each winner has gone above and beyond in shaping UWE into a place where students can learn, thrive and feel at home.



We’re pleased to share the full list of winners from the night:

The Outstanding Teaching Award – CATE
Winner: Danny Elvidge - Senior Lecturer in Building Physics and Services
“Danny is an outstanding mentor to our students and is widely recognised in our department for his unwavering dedication. His commitment to his student's wellbeing as well as their academic needs, combined with his proactive and personal approach, helps students access the support they need. Danny’s lectures are inclusive, interactive and interesting and he provides a safe and encouraging environment to learn and discuss”

The Outstanding Student Rep Award – CATE
Winner: Yarden Woolf - Student Rep for CATE PGR Committee
“As a Student Representative, Yarden has demonstrated exemplary leadership in ensuring postgraduate research students' voices are heard. Through her professionalism, proactive engagement, and student-centred approach, Yarden has made a lasting impact on her peers and the academic environment at UWE. Her ability to bridge the gap between students and university leadership exemplifies the qualities of an outstanding Student Rep. I am confident that her contributions have significantly enhanced the postgraduate experience at UWE.”

The Leadership Award
Winner: Sasirindu Hamangoda - School of Engineering
“Sasirindu has consistently shown a deep understanding for the role with a passion for representing his fellow students across the wide range and breadth of Engineering. The student voice in the School of Engineering is certainly louder since Sasirindu became LSR. He displays a maturity and empathy that appreciates perspectives from all sides. Sasirindu exudes positivity and happiness in everything that he does. He provides invaluable feedback and thoughtful discussion, building a sense of community between academics and students.”

The Student Voice Award
Winner: Jane Garrihy - Community Projects Coordinator (Bower and Liberations)
“…For her continuous hard work to improve the experience of Bower Ashton and City Campus students and ensure their feedback turns into action. Jane actively seeks and proactively responds to student feedback and ideas. She goes above and beyond to make students feel heard and like their voices can and do make a difference.  I truly believe Jane has had an incredible impact on the student community and does so with selflessness and humility, always putting students at the centre of what she does.”

The Outstanding Teaching Award – CBL
Winner: Nancy Siboe - Senior Lecturer in Law
“Nancy provides excellent teaching and makes it very engaging; she genuinely cares about students by going above and beyond to support their learning.
Nancy has successfully mentored LLB students with 11 students gaining work experience in top law firms across Bristol. She also organised a great Black History Month event within the Law school which created a sense of community amongst Level 4-6 students.”

Winner: Sarah Watson - Senior Lecturer in Accounting & Finance
“Sarah’s caring nature and friendly demeanour make her highly approachable, fostering a supportive atmosphere for students. Sarah consistently makes learning engaging through innovative teaching methods, ensuring students are motivated and enthusiastic. Her impact on the UWE community is profound, as she enhances academic experiences and builds meaningful connections, making her a beloved figure among students. Her efforts have significantly contributed to a more collaborative and enjoyable educational environment.”

The Outstanding Student Rep Award – CBL
Winner: Shoko Nagata – Student Rep for Master of Business Administration (MBA)
“Shoko shows commitment to her role and for helping the wider university. She has acted as an effective interface between the students and academic staff. Shoko gladly and without reservation volunteered to be involved in a programme Marketing initiative to promote the MBA programme to future intakes. Finally, Shoko demonstrated outstanding care and concern for a fellow student under severe pressure, alerting the Programme Leader to this serious issue, who was then able to facilitate timely support, towards a happy outcome.”

The Student Sustainability Champion Award
Winner: Aoife Phillips
“Aoife is a resilient individual who drives change for the good of others. She is also a skilled leader who excels in relationship building and inclusivity, particularly with those who may hold a different view from her. She started the Plant-Based Universities Campaign at UWE which calls on universities to transition to 100% sustainable plant-based catering to tackle climate crises. I am particularly impressed with her approach to engaging stakeholders at UWE. All of this she has worked on whilst completing a full-time Masters in Sustainable Food Systems.”

The Teaching for Sustainable Development Award
Winner: Owen Gray – Lecturer in Building Physics and Sustainability
“Owen is a lecturer with an amazing understanding of sustainable and emerging technologies, his passion for building physics is always clear when you speak to him. In seminar groups, he answers questions in a clear and concise way, and never makes you feel silly. He’s engaged with a wide range of topics in the built environment. He is great at signposting to other resources that you may be interested in! His drawings are amazing (when he decides to share them), and this ability helps him to stand out with his ability to communicate in a visual way.”

The Outstanding Teaching Award – CHSS
Winner: Craig Johnston – Senior Lecturer in Criminology
“Craig is an incredibly positive and supportive member of staff who deeply cares about all his students. He has always made time to meet with me and other students to discuss our dissertations despite his busy schedule.  His lectures are fun and interactive, and students look forward to being in his classes. The academic support I have received from him is the best I have ever got.  No other lecturer I have had is like Craig. He is also great at applying content to real life situations to make information easier to understand.”

The Outstanding Student Rep Award – CHSS
Winner: Lyu Pavlova - Student Rep for BSc Sociology with Psychology
“Lyu has shown confidence in her role as Student Rep and has represented her cohort and escalated their concerns. She provides constructive feedback and has worked with her Programme Leads to improve and strengthen modules. She has had real influence during her time as a Student Rep, with some of her achievements being used to demonstrate the impact of the Student Rep role when reviewing policy and training. Lyu shows commitment to her role and for helping the wider university.”

The Student Community Champion Award
Winner: Amrutha Kotichintala
“Amrutha has consistently championed student voices and fostered an environment where students feel supported, empowered, and connected. Her efforts in organising events and collaborating across societies exemplify her leadership and her ability to make UWE a place where everyone feels they belong. Amrutha is not only a leader but a beacon of community spirit and student advocacy. Her contributions have not only enhanced the student experience but have also laid a foundation for a more inclusive and dynamic campus culture.”

The Supportive Staff Award
Winner: Becky Risley - Specialist Drug & Alcohol Practitioner
“Becky's work over the past few years has been vital to UWE's harm reduction approach and she is constantly striving to improve support and awareness across the campus sites as well as giving 1:1 support to students. She interacts with students with kindness and transparency - and never makes you feel like a question is silly. She is constantly working to improve the Drugs and Alcohol service and after receiving support from her, students feel able to continue their studies.”

The Vice-Chancellor’s Award
Winner: Chantel Blackwood
“Chantel embodies the qualities of a mentor, friend and colleague to all. Her motivation and tenacity are an inspiration. She has not only overcome adversity but has continued to create opportunities for others, offering support and encouragement wherever possible. Her willingness to engage with and contribute to the wider university community in a meaningful way make her a role model for many. Chantel demonstrates extraordinary resilience, determination and an unwavering commitment to her studies and the university community.”

The Student Inclusivity Award
Winner: Adelaide Miles-Nilsen
“Adelaide has worked tirelessly in her role as the LGBTQ+ Officer to celebrate Queer Culture and create a more inclusive community here at UWE. Over the past two years she has fostered a sense of belonging and worked towards making UWE a safe space where students are seen, appreciated and celebrated for their unique differences. This year she introduced the Gender Expression Fund which financially supports trans and non-binary students in accessing gender affirming items.”

The Collaboration Award
Winners: Becky Risley, Mo Ebengho, Lily Mallinson, Emilia Paine, Isabel Morgan – The Student Drugs & Alcohol Steering Group
“This group creates opportunities for students to have a direct say on campaigns and policy decisions around UWE's harm reduction approach to drugs and alcohol. Throughout the year members of the steering group have assisted on harm reduction stalls, co-created communications and represented the student voice in meetings with UWE staff. Their work helps students and staff feel more confident in seeking support, know what to do in an emergency and remove stigma around substance use.”

The Student Experience Awards Project Team would like to congratulate all of this year’s winners, shortlisters, and nominees. We also extend a huge and heartfelt thank you to Jo Midgley, Yvonne Beach, James Lee, and Elena Marco for their generous sponsorship, unwavering commitment to partnership, and continued support.

A big thank you as well to everyone who contributed, supported, and joined us – your involvement made for a truly unforgettable evening.

The official photos from the evening can be viewed and downloaded here: https://www.flickr.com/photos/uwesu/albums/72177720326467390/

Should you wish to use any of these on social media, etc. we ask that you please credit our photographer Zoe Dixon:

Instagram - @zoedixonphoto