Kent Student Award winners announced at gala ceremony

Gary Hughes

Annual event celebrates those who have made an outstanding contribution to University life or a positive impact on the community.

The winners of Kent’s annual awards for students who have made an outstanding contribution to University life or a positive impact on the community were announced during a gala ceremony on Friday 8 May.

Held at Darwin College on the University’s Canterbury campus, the Kent Student Awards 2015 were attended by more than 140 students, staff and guests.

The overall Student of the Year Award was won by April-Louise Pennant, a final year Sociology with a Year in Hong Kong student. She received her Award from Deputy Vice-Chancellor Professor Keith Mander and Tammy Naidoo, President of Kent Union.

Ms Pennant was chosen having won the Outstanding International/Multicultural Initiative of the Year and for being a runner up in the Outstanding Contribution to Equality, Diversity and Inclusivity category. Her achievements include promoting racial equality and black culture on campus and at The Chinese University of Hong Kong.

Award winner Billy Yu Lok Ng

Award winner Billy Yu Lok Ng

Kent Law School student Billy Yu Lok Ng won both the Chancellor’s Employability Points Award and the Outstanding Fundraiser of the Year Award for his campaigning and fundraising for a new Kent Law Clinic on campus,  alongside other charity fundraising.

The other Awards categories and winners were:

  • Outstanding Contribution to the 50th Anniversary – Campus2Campus runners, for running over 200 miles from Canterbury to Paris and raising over £6,000 for charity in the University’s 50th year. The runners included: George Brodie, Jessica Houghton, Cameron Hutton, Ellie Mason, Matthew Prior and Anh Tran
  • Outstanding Contribution to the Local Community – Gullalaii Yousafzai, a postgraduate student in Reproductive Medicine: Science and Ethics, for helping the homeless, volunteering as an English teacher, raising awareness of hate crime and supporting asylum seekers through being a birth partner
  • Outstanding Contribution to Arts and Culture – Daniel Hards, Drama and Theatre, for establishing a theatre company, volunteering and for developing the confidence and creativity of local school children through youth theatre
  • Outstanding Environmental Champion – Fiona Pedeboy, Politics and International Relations, for promoting sustainable practices on campus and setting-up a free shop where students can donate unwanted items for reuse by others

Two Special Commendations for Overcoming Personal Challenges were awarded to:

  • Dellanie Nash, Medical Humanities, for inspiring fellow students through her dedication and high level of academic achievement, while working full-time to support her family
  • Hannah Beth Ford, Psychology, for her desire to set up a charity to help others after overcoming her own personal difficulties.