MDXSU Awards 2019: The Results
Middlesex Students' Union are excited to announce the winners of this year's MDXSU Awards!
The annual awards are our way of celebrating the work and achievements of Middlesex University students over the past year, and recognising the contribution they have made to the university, the community and the lives of their fellow students.
We received nearly 300 nominations this year from students as well as from MDXSU and University staff, plus external organisations. These nominations were then reviewed by a judging panel of elected students and staff to decide the final shortlist and winners.
This year's MDXSU Awards ceremony took place on Thursday 2 May in Proud Cabaret Embankment, and was hosted by MDXSU Vice Presidents Lucy Holland and Erica Ramos. Alongside the drinks reception, guests were treated to three-course meal and the all-important results.
Our impact and achievements wouldn’t have been possible without the dedication and passion of the students who work and volunteer with us, such as the amazing students shortlisted in tonight’s awards, and hundreds more. Thank you to all the winners, nominees and the many other students for giving us so much to celebrate this year.
Celebrations will continue at MDXSU's huge end-of-year event next Wednesday 15 May, with dodgems, silent disco, fairground games and more at Summer Shutdown.
Read on for the full results. Click here to view photos from the MDXSU Awards Ceremony on MDXSU's Facebook page.
THE RESULTS
Student Voice Leader of the Year
The shortlist...
Fazila Shaikh
Florentina-Daniela Bonghene
Kristian Karvay
Melissa Nabre
The winner…
Melissa Nabre
“Melissa has been really engaged with the role is year - chairing the Programme Voice Group, which meant students are really at the heart of decisions made about the programme. Melissa ensured lots of changes are made at a programme level but also have been involved in other activities throughout MDXSU. She has successfully passed policy through the Student Leaders’ Conference which means self-defence classes will be available for all genders, supported some of the full-time officer campaigns and even had time be on the POW! Committee.”
Community Contribution Award
The shortlist...
Adela Juhasova
Hisham Kanan & Neda Mohamad
Onco Nano Research Students Group
Rebecca Torrie
The winners…
Hisham Kanan & Neda Mohamadi
“Hisham Kanan & Neda Mohamadi has had a huge impact on the local community through the Community Placement Scheme. Thanks to the hard work of our officer team, MDXSU made a commitment to resettling refugees locally, and we’ve had the privilege to work with Barnet Refugee Service, with two students undertaking roles as project co-ordinators for their youth group. Feedback from Barnet Refugee Service describes these placement students as incredibly committed and knowledgeable, and they have consistently gone the extra mile. Not only have they been translators, facilitators, and sometimes even football coaches, but they have exceeded expectations, organising sessions for other students to provide the young people with specialised classes in to developed recreational skills.”
Highly commended…
Onco Nano Research Students Group
“Onco Nano received an impressive number of nominations from both students and staff, which illustrates the impact they have had. They have worked incredibly hard to engage a group of students that haven’t previously been involved in MDXSU, but who now actively seek out opportunities to be part of our events and activities. They’ve developed relationships with other students to mentor and offer academic support, giving tips on how to be successful and look after their wellbeing. It has been an honour to work with this group and its leader this year!”
Super POW!er of the Year
The shortlist...
Ahmad Jolghazi
Gytis Kezys
Katya Turikova
Natalie Rose
The winner...
Natalie Rose
"Natalie Rose has shown incredible passion, motivation and commitment this year, volunteering her time over several Freshers’ events and being active in committee meetings throughout the year. Natalie has shown great vision for her area of POW!, and her enthusiasm in turning this idea into reality. The panel felt that the POW! News platform would be nowhere without Natalie’s efforts."
Best New Society
The shortlist...
CSSA (Chinese Students and Scholars Association)
MDX S.T.E.M. (Science, Techology, Engineering, Mathematics) Society
Performing Arts Society
The winner...
CSSA
“It was clear that CSSA have invested a great deal of time and energy in getting their society off the ground, and the panel was impressed with how well-organised and engaging their events were, despite being so new”
Student-Led Event of the Year
The shortlist...
Chinese New Year Gala - CSSA (Chinese Student Scholars' Association)
Holi - Indian Society and Bollywood Society
MDX Got Talent - Singers & Musicians Society with POW! Media
Rudi Oppenheimer for Holocaust Memorial Day - Jewish Society
The winner…
MDX Got Talent
“The winning event this year was well organised and well attended and demonstrated excellent collaboration, involving both students and staff. This event was not only enjoyed by the guests, but also showcased the talents of students beyond the event itself.”
Highly commended…
Holi - Indian Society and Bollywood Society
“This event was a lot of fun to be part of and created an amazing atmosphere on campus. It was also an example of great collaboration between not only the organisers, the Students’ Union and the university, but the two societies too.”
Society of the Year
The shortlist...
Arab Society
Burlesque Society
ISoc (Islamic Society
Musical Theatre Society
Singers & Musicians Society
The winner…
ISoc
"They have organised some amazing events this year, working to make sure they are accessible and that students from all backgrounds are aware of their activities. As well as providing enjoyable events for their members, they have amazing charity fundraising, and have worked to tackle stereotypes, and were recognised on a national level."
Highly Commended...
Musical Theatre Society
“Musical Theatre Society has shown huge amounts of passion & dedication this year, and have been given the highly commended award for the incredible amount of work they put into writing, performing and directing their own original play.”
Outstanding Contribution to Student Life
The shortlist...
Aashi Tejwani
Anjelina Qureshi
David Temilade
Natasha White
Sabren Amin
Simone Gordon
The winner...
Aashi Tejwani
“Aashi helps to lead several societies, including Indian Society and STEM, who you might remember hearing about earlier tonight! Aashi was also elected to represent students on Science & Technology courses, and received countless nominations from students who said how proactive she is in resolving issues and keeping students informed. Her nominations described her as enthusiastic, empowering and kind, while staff said she was a “top role model’”
Highly commended…
David Temilade
“David is involved in all areas of student life, from working in halls to Captaining the Table Tennis Team, as well as being a key member of ACS. From David’s nominations, it is clear that he possesses natural leadership skills and is passionate about supporting his fellow students, particularly in improving the experience of black students and communities – including through his participation in the students of colour research project.”
MDXSU Student Staff Member of the Year
The shortlist...
Elena Cabal Rodriguez
Derek Lamb
Natasha White
Charlotte Facto
The winner…
Derek Lamb
“Our student staff are truly amazing and each of the shortlisted students have been incredible ambassadors for MDXSU this year. They have each added something different to the success of the team making this a really difficult category to judge.
Derek is known for always smiling, offering to do shifts at every opportunity, and often at the very last minute. He’s worked club nights, stalls and flyer’ing around campus, and can often be seen in an all purple onesie as one of MDXSUs greatest promoters on campus.”
MDXSU Intern of the Year
The shortlist...
Rebecca Torrie
Viktorie Kopecna
Adela Juhasova
Reygan Davison
Helen Downham
The winner…
Reygan Davison
“This was an incredibly difficult category to judge as each of these students have done some phenomenal work, from supporting different groups of students to create their own community on campus, to organising events and trips, working on ensuring the students’ union improves its sustainability and environmental practice and supporting societies with all the work that goes on behind the scenes to make their activity a success.
Reygan has worked tirelessly to improve the lives of students involved in our student groups, from helping to reinvigorate RAG so they can engage with the local community and raise money for charity, to putting themselves out there on various promotional stalls throughout the year. She juggled being an intern with also being a staff member as part of Team MDXSU often working the cloakroom at club nights and running around campus promoting all things students’ union."
Highly commended…
Adela Juhasova & Rebecca Torrie
“Adela has worked hard as our International Students Intern to create an inclusive space, innovative events and opportunities for our international students to feel part of the Middlesex Community. She has organised numerous successful events throughout the year but I wanted to mention one key event in particular, our first ever MDX Talk where a panel of four international graduates spoke to over 30 international students. Adela’s commitment to engaging a group of students often forgotten about and her can do attitude are inspiring. Well done Adela.”
“Rebecca has been involved in the students’ union throughout her time as a student and this year as our Campaigns Intern has taken a lead on MDXSU’s sustainability work by single-handedly gathering evidence for our Green Impact accreditation, securing the Sunny Hill Garden Space to use for sustainability purposes and horticultural welfare activities, and securing a clothes recycling point on campus being installed in the next few weeks. On top of this work Rebecca has been really active in growing our Disabled Liberation Group to ensure there is a focus on both seen and unseen disabilities are catered for. Well done Rebecca!”
MDXSU Staff Member of the Year
The shortlist...
Hannah Keating
Andre Thompson
Sally Bernard
Alex Benjamin
Cerys Owen
The winner…
Hannah Keating
Highly commended…
André Thompson
Congratulations to all those who were shortlisted or won an award this year, and thank you to students and staff for the hundreds of nominations we received.
If you would like to get involved in some of the opportunities students won awards for this year, have a browse of www.mdxsu.com or contact us at mdxsu@mdx.ac.uk
