MDXSU Night of Champions Awards - the winners!
On the evening of May 14th Middlesex students attended the MDXSU Night of Champions Awards, to celebrate the achievements of the past aacademic year. Those in attendance were nominated for awards that recognise the remarkable efforts that they have put in to the Students' Union and Middlesex community - as society leaders, as interns, as organisers and as advocates.
The event highlighted the incredible impact that passionate and enthusiastic students have upon life at Middlesex. Together, they've put on record-breaking events, won awards, run educational workshops, represented the Union at national conferences, and raised over £30,000 for charity.
Everyone nominated can take pride in doing something special during their time at university, but the winners below are those who went above and beyond in ways no-one could anticipate. To find out who took home a trophy on the night, scroll down!
MDXSU MEDIA AWARDS
MDX TIMES
Best Journalist of the Year
Shiva Pouya - Politics Editor
Rowena Kinghorn - Fashion Editor
Dipika Gurnani - Deputy Editor
Winner of the Best Journalist of the Year Award: Shiva Pouya, Politics Editor
Shiva has been with the MDX Times for two years and has independently researched numerous hard-hitting articles, which were read and enjoyed by many. She has shown commitment to the paper by regularly attending editorial meetings and is a vibrant journalist.
Best Section Editor of the Year
Rowena Kinghorn - Fashion Editor
Josiah Clarke - Music Editor
Sumaiyah Patel - News Editor
Winner of the Best Section Editor of the Year Award: Rowena Kinghorn, Fashion Editor
Rowena started writing for the MDX Times just this year and has made a massive impact as a section editor of the MDX Times. She always got her articles in on time; she even supported other editors with their laying out. Her articles were admired by many and featured on MDXSU.com too.
Best Article of the Year
Rowena Kinghorn - ‘London Fashion Week: What Autumn/Winter 2014/15 have in store’
Nathan Gaskin - ‘Media Mind Games Creates Rifts’
Shiva Pouya - ’Students Scalded By Hot Water Prices’
Sumaiyah Patel - ‘Benefit Street: Harsh Reality Or Stereotype’
Joint winners of the Best Article of the Year Award:
Rowena Kinghorn for ‘London Fashion Week: What Autumn/Winter 2014/15 have in store’
Sumaiyah Patel - ‘Benefit Street: Harsh Reality Or Stereotype’
It was difficult to choose just one winner for this award, so the panel had to choose two articles. Rowena’s was amazingly researched and thoughtfully written feature piece on a major London-based event.
The second piece was a hard hitting analysis of a current affairs programme and this article dug deep into the core issues that were being debated nationally and related them back to Middlesex students.
RADIO MDX
Best presenter(s) of the Year
DuShaun Alderson-Claeys - The Dacster Show with DuShaun
Svenja Koeppe - Breakfast with Svenja
Harry Akerman and Charlie Coleman - Future Sound
Winner of the Best Presenter of the Year Award: DuShaun Alderson-Claeys for The Dacster Show with DuShaun
DuShaun has an amazingly popular lunch time show which he presents with confidence. He understands the right mixture of music and dialogue, and based on his half-hour long interview with Chartwells Manager Mark Clarke, he can probably talk for Britain. He is a passionate and dedicated part of the radio and his show is a real example of how student-led radio should run.
Best Radio Show of the Year
Welshy and the Posh - Joe Cox and Luke Bellas
Phillipe Gibson - Disinhibition
DuShaun Alderson-Claeys - The Dacster Show with DuShaun
Winner of the Best Radio Show of the Year Award: Welshy and the Posh - Joe Cox and Luke Bellas
This show has undoubtedly changed the dynamic of our listenership and volunteer base for our student radio. Instead of the usual mix of music or light entertainment, Welshy and The Posh have sought out opportunities to discuss current affairs, and host the first radio mdx show to host our current local MP, the former MP for our local area, and a parliamentary candidate for another local constituency.
Best Newcomer(s) of the Year
Joe Cox and Luke Bellas - Welshy and the Posh
Phillipe Gibson - Disinhibition
Diana Dimitrova - The International Show
Winner of the Best Newcomers of the Year Award: Welshy and the Posh - Joe Cox and Luke Bellas
Luke and Joe are two first year students who decided to get involved in the radio on a train ride home from Golders Green at the start of the year. Thier decision has meant we have two amazing presenters at Radio MDX, who provide a hard hitting show which has had a local political impact in the run up to this year’s local and European election.
MDXSU TV
Best TV Show of the Year
Mitchell Cork - Comic Con 2013
Liam Byrne - MDXmas Market
Wayne Newell - MDXSU Welcome Week
Winner of the Best TV Show of the Year: Mitchell Cork - Comic Con 2013
Mitchell’s show was the first ever broadcasted on our new TV station and in it he secured an interview with Torchwood actor Kai Owen. The quality of this show was great and really showcased Mitchell’s skills as a broadcaster.
Outstanding Contribution to Student Media
Shiva Pouya - Politics Editor, MDX Times
DuShaun Alderson-Claeys - Radio MDX Tech manager
Yossie Olaleya - Features Editor, MX Times
Dipika Gurnani - Deputy Editor, MDX Times
Joint Winners of the Outstanding Contribution to Student Media:
DuShaun Alderson-Claeys - Radio MDX Tech manager
Dipika Gurnani - Deputy Editor, MDX Times
DuShaun may always in our office causing trouble, but in all seriousness, there isn’t one student that shows as much a passion and commitment to improving the quality of student radio.
Dipika has fought for MDX Times to change from a small features magazine into an investigative campus-wide newspaper. She has helped lead and transform the mdx times into what it is today.
MDXSU STUDENT SOCIETIES AWARDS
Best Society
MDX Marrow Society
ACS - Afro-Carribean Society
Pakistani Society
Winner of Best Society Award: MDX Marrow Society
Marrow Soc is relatively new, but has honestly taken Middlesex by storm in the last two years. They have been the embodiment of the campaigning societies at Middlesex; this year they raised over £500 for their charity, have worked closely with a national organisation, and recruited over 300 students to a life saving donor list. Their society committee has worked over a 1000 hours for their cause and have consistently been the forefront of activism on campus.
Best Academic Society
Complementary and Alternative Medicine Academic Society
Midwifery Academic Society
Visual Arts Academic Society
Winner of Best Academic Society Award: Complementary and Alternative Medicine Academic Society
The Complementary and Alternative Medicine Academic Society have really stood out: they’ve run series of events that engaged students on their course, mobilised a school that never previously engaged with the students union, and showed iniaitive by working with academic staff within their school to secure thousands of pounds worth of funding for all of their events this year.
Best New Society
Debating Society
House Music Society
SWAG Society
Winner of Best New Society: Debating Society
The Debating Society have only been active since January, however in a short space of time, they have captured the imagination of countless of Middlesex students. They have hosted events nearly every week, debating controversial topics in a professionally-run and amicable manner. They also launched an International Women’s Day campaign in conjunction with MDX Sport, again breaking barriers on equal representation.
Most Developed Society
RAG
Discover Life
Jewish Society
Islamic Society
Winner of Most Developed Society: Debating Society
MDX RAG have been around 3 years now, but in this time have rapidly developed into the cornerstone of the student experience here at Middlesex. They have continued to run multiple events and have grown their membership by 400% this year. They fundraised £10k last year, but this year have amazingly fundraised £20k so far, are on target to raise £50k by the end of the year!
Best Society Leader
Aqib Ali - Ahlul Bayt Society
Verity Blackman - Midwifery Academic Society
Sulaiman Lkaderi - Islamic Society
Edgar de Silva - House Music Society
Joint Winners of Best Society Leader Award:
Aqib Ali - Ahlul Bayt Society
Verity Blackman - Midwifery Academic Society
Aqib Ali is one of the most passionate and dedicated society leaders on campus. He has single-handedly taken a small under-represented community and ensured the voices of those students are equally heard.
Verity Blackman is a student who, because of her course, has minimal time to commit elsewhere. However she has engaged with her fellow students to form a fantastic new society run a series of successful events, and enabled the society to form a base to ensure a thriving community on campus.
Event of the Year
House Music Society - Friday Night Special
Superheroes Pub Crawl - RAG
Bubble Football - Marrow and Natural Sciences
The Big Clash - ACS
Winner of the Event of the Year Award: House Music Society for the Friday Night Special
The Friday Night Special shows that is possible - with the right combination of exceptional promotion, thoughtful planning and a theme which students are excited about - for a society to host the biggest event on campus this year.
Outstanding Contribution to Student Activities
Sulaiman Lkaderi - Islamic Society
Marrow Society
ACS
Fizza and Nadia - PakSoc
Leanne Mitchell - RAG and Jsoc
Winner of the Outstanding Contribution to Societies: Sulaiman Lkaderi - Islamic Society
Sulaiman Lkaderi has changed the landscape of the biggest active community at Middlesex University. He led a campaign to ensure that Islamic Soc had a fair governance structure, free and fair election and was equally representing all its members. By working with his senior leadership team to revolutionise the governance structure of his society, Middlesex now has the first ever Islamic society which constitutionally ensures they are an equal amount of women on their commitment - and the first society at middlesex university to also guarantee that.
MDXSU VOICE LEADERS AWARDS
Law + Business Student Voice Leader of the Year
Nathan Gaskin
Aishah Piprawala
Anna Maria Salecka
Khan Ansir
Winner of Law and Business Student voice leader of the Year Award: Nathan Gaskin
Nathan has been proactive from the start; he has also been involved in different aspects of the Union. His engagement at conferences shows his commitment to the role, as he is always participating in debates and actively seeking change across the University.
Art, Design, Media & Performing Arts Student Voice Leader of the Year
Jennifer Igiri
Charles George
Ruben Duarte
Yves Frakowiak
Winner of Art, Design, Media and Performing Arts Student Voice Leader of the Year Award: Jennifer Igiri
Jennifer has done very well as a student voice leader. She has addressed issues within her course which she has brought up with the Director of Programmes and filtered back down to her fellow peers. She has become more engaged with the Union and we hope she will continue this work next year.
Health, Education, Science,& Technology Student Voice Leader of the Year
Steven Bullock
Janet Willicott
Zaynab Mumin
Artensia Qosja
Winner of Health, Education, Science and Technology Student Voice Leader of the Year Award: Steven Bullock
Steven has not only worked tirelessly for education students, they have always attended board of studies, relevant meetings, & always keeps the student union are the forefront of his work. He is an all round brilliant Student Voice Leader that treats his role with true leadership and professionalism.
MDXSU CHAMPIONS AWARDS
Student Events Manager of the Year
Meera Taylor
Jess Hawke
Taiwo Oniti
Winner of the Student Events Manager of the Year Award: Meera Taylor
Meera took the initiative and put on an extremely successful event, booking the venue, sourcing funds, organising acts and even performing at it herself.
Student Campaigner of the Year
Orkide Tunc
Charles George
Jordan Hagerup
Tala Sweiss
Winner of the Student Campaigner of the Year Award: Orkide Tunc
Orkide campaigns in all possible forms. She started up two campaign societies here at Middlesex, which changed the lives of many students, she also volunteers in numerous hospitals again changing lives of others, she is a youth representative of the Labour Party - campaigning in her local community fighting for progressive causes. She has researched for the higher education academic who drive excellence in higher education, and she is also a campaigner for the rights of Turkish people in English, which has been recognised by the Turkish government.
Student Fundraiser of the Year
Hannah Newman
Faryal Rabbani
Mareena Sheikh
Leanne Mitchell
Winner of the Student Fundraiser of the Year Award: Hannah Newman
Hannah is a passionate, hardworking & dependable volunteer. She has juggled studying her Masters, playing & coaching cricket, part time work, and has took on the challenge of Mount Kilimanjaro for charity. She organised a dinner event with famous cricket stars, collected money for charity at tube stations, attended many fundraising events, and she is always there to help her team raise more. She has single handedly raised over £2000 this year on top of her other commitments.
Most Inspiring MDX Student
Faryal Rabbani
Orla Hillary
Sarah Lyamani
John Welsh
Winner of the Most Inspiring MDX Student of the Year Award: Faryal Rabbani
Through Faryal’s involvement in the student union, she has shown real hard work, determination, passion and energy. She will be climbing Kilimanjaro this coming July for charity, has managed to raise over £2000 and organised a bag packing opportunity exclusively for her team - all whilst juggling her studies and part-time job.
She goes above and beyond what she needs to do and always thinking for others. One nomination for her said 'She has more courage than anyone else I know, she is so strong and caring, I am honoured to know her and know she will make a brilliant doctor one day'
MDX Student of the Year
Orla Hillary
Jess Hawke
Charles George
Arielle Mendez
Winner of the Blue Ribband MDX Student of the Year Award: Orla Hillary
Orla has shown true leadership and has shown she that on top of her highly demanding course she will still be there for her team. She is a brilliant student nurse, the women's basketball captain and Student Voice Leader and recently returned from volunteering in a hospital in China.
MDXSU AWARDS
Student Advice Advocate of the Year
Rosalin Guatam
Iqra Mahmood
Paris Fanos
Alex Chung
Waqas Ali
Ipek Azize Karatepe
Winner of Student Advice Advocate of the Year Award: Rosalin Guatam
Rosalin’s warm approach to casework has been consistently professional and she has continuously challenged herself by taking on cases of increasing complexity and succeeded. She should be proud of her achievements and well deserves this award
Best Student-Led Teaching Award Nomination
Felicity T for her nomination of Steve Kett for ‘ Most Innovative Teacher’
Dilan Patel for her nomination for Dr Pingli for ‘Most Inspiring Teacher’
Orion J. Facey for his nomination for Gulsum Metin for ‘Best Non-Teaching Staff’
Winner of Best Student-Led Teaching Awards Nomination: Felicity T for her nomination of Steve Kett for ‘ Most Innovative Teacher’
Felicity’s nomination: “Steve inspires us all to reach our potentials and dig deep within ourselves to bring out the best that we can offer always. I remember a silly little scenario whereby I was trying to flip a coin and failed miserably and so resulted into spinning it instead. He asked me why I had stopped trying to flip it and I said that I couldn’t. His face changed and he said to me never say you cannot do something; you just haven’t learnt the art and skill of doing as yet. Never give up!
That is such a mediocre situation for a statement like that but from that I learnt something that I can apply to everything in my life, be it social, work-related or academically related. For that, amongst many other words of encouragement and how his passion for what he teaches is just so infectious, I thank him for inspiring me!”
Student Opportunities Intern of the Year
Aman Siddiqi
Sevim Dogan
Alex Lund
Kimberley Bateman
Hannah Evans
Daphne Tapfumaneyi
Winner of Student Opportunities Intern of the Year Award: Alex Lund
Alex has meticulously forged lasting relationships with our newly established academic societies this year and key University academics through hours of networking, motivation and lots of meetings. He always acts professionally and his example of working with students is an inspiration which has left a legacy of high performing and successful academic societies. He is a hard worker and a closer, with outstanding logistical skills and an excellent eye for detail. He was also a key organiser of the Student Led Teaching Awards earlier this year which went down with great success.
Student Voice Intern of the Year
Richard Chapman
Arielle Alvarez
Jordan Hagerup
Heba Mohsin
Afiyah Ahmed
Tosin Oyelese
Winner of Student Voice Intern of the Year Award: Jordan Hagerup
Jordan has fully immersed herself in life in the student movement, and has responded exceptionally well to the campaign training delivered at the beginning of the year, meaning that her work is always well planned and thought through. She can always be relied upon to assess student campaign ideas effectively from start to end, feeding this back to the Student Voice team and sabbatical officers in a way that has enhanced the work of the SU in a phenomenal way. She is always very fast and efficient in her work, setting an example not just to other interns but to everyone at the SU. Not only that, but Jordan also stood up in front of 1000s of students across the country at the NUS National Conference to deliver a speech on behalf of MDX students.
Welcome Desk Team Member of the Year
Joel Fleming
Dan Pattison
Khushel Valji
Wayne Newell
Yocana Vaz Da Cruz
Winner of Welcome Desk Team Member of the Year Award: Joel Fleming
Joel is dedicated, motivated and will always go the extra mile to ensure our students get the best experience whenever they approach the Union. His customer service skills are brilliant and he always ensures a student leaves with solutions and options that they can pursue to become part of MDXSU or get to where they need to be. He never cracks under pressure and is always very calm and controlled in any situation. Joel adds immeasurable value to our Welcome Desk and staff team and is an absolute pleasure to work with.
Team MDXSU Member of the Year
Mohammed Almnsouri
Hannah Evans
Kimberley Bateman
Winner of Team MDXSU Member of the Year Award: Mohammed Almnsouri
Mohammed Almnsouri just never says no. He is extremely reliable and always puts his best foot forward at countless open days, society events and SU stalls throughout the year. He is a true ambassador of the Students’ Union, always able to articulate how students can get involved with us in a way that leaves them excited and really wanting to be part of MDXSU.
MDXSU Staff Member of the Year 2014
Janelle Clarke
Zui Duckers-Lyle
Tash Ross
Winner of MDXSU Staff Member of the Year Award: Janelle Clarke
Friend of MDXSU
Mark Clarke - Chartwells deputy general manager
Mike Elesdon - Viridian manager
Jacqui Boddington - Head of Student Experience
Barbara Goldsmith - Contracts Manager
Ben Little - Senior Lecturer in Media and Cultural Studies
Winner of the Friend of MDXSU Award: Mark Clarke
Mark - aka Klarkie - has supported MDXSU in good times, bad times, and absolutely awful times in his 7 year he was worked at Middlesex. He has been a constant supporter and ally of all student societies, has built an empowering relationship with individual students, and been a tireless supporter of the students union.
In one night Klarkie can change from being a barman, to a security guard, to an event manager and to a promoter. And he does all this not for himself, but to improve the student experience at Middlsesex. He’s also there to make sure your subway hot and on time, re-filling your coffee cups and make sure those onion rings are still a pound!
Thank you to everyone who participated in the nominations - it's thanks to you that these students and staff have won the recongintion they deserve. If you would like to be involved in next year's awards, just remember: MDXSU is here for you and that it's never too late to be involved!
