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Newcastle University Awards
The Newcastle University Awards recognise your achievements and contribution to university life and the wider community.
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
To be shortlisted for the Newcastle University Awards:
- you will have nominated yourself, or been nominated by someone else, for a Celebrating Success Award
- you will have won a category at a Celebrating Success Awards level as an individual, part of a group or society. This includes any Newcastle University campus, including our campuses in Malaysia and Singapore. Special arrangements will be made for students outside of Newcastle to celebrate their success locally. Alternatively, you will have been put forward from affiliated University awards.
- your contribution to the University or our wider community should be demonstrated
- your activities must have taken place during the last 12 months
- you must not have received academic credit for any part of this achievement. This includes those relating to work you have done on behalf of a business (excluding The Contribution to the Workplace Awards)
- students involved in the judging panel or organising the awards cannot be nominated for an individual award, but can be part of a wider team that is nominated
The decision of the judging panel is final and no feedback will be given on individual nominees.
Winning students, societies or projects cannot enter the same category of the following year.
Prizes
For each 'Outstanding Contribution' award, the winning entry will receive £250 and the runner up will receive £50.
All Undergraduate and Postgraduate Taught winners will also receive recognition of the award on their degree transcript.
For any society winners, prizes will go to the winning societies, not to the individual who completed the form.
Outstanding Contribution to Arts, Media & Culture
- Grace Laidler, Outstanding Contribution to NUTV (Media Awards)
- Jazz Orchestra, Society of the Year (Societies Awards)
- Jess Mooney, Outstanding Contribution to The Courier (Media Awards)
- Katy Johnston, Outstanding Contribution to NSR (Media Awards)
- Media and Journalism Society, Academic Society of the Year (Societies Awards)
- Musical Theatre Society, Performance of the Year (Societies Awards)
- Noelia Fernandez Perez (Volleyball Club), Sports Media Coverage (AU Awards)
- Ruby Tiplady, The Monica Doughty Award (Media Awards)
Outstanding Contribution to Lifelong Health & Wellbeing
- Marrow Society, Fundraising Champions (Community Impact Awards)
- Middlesbrough Medics MultiSport Society, New Society of the Year (Societies Awards)
- Nightline, Wellbeing Champion Award (Community Impact Awards)
- Suzi Howell, Student Leadership Award (Community Impact Awards)
Outstanding Contribution to the Student Voice
- Bella Deakin, Student Secretary of the Year (Student Rep Awards)
- Ella Swallow, UG Course Rep of the Year (Student Rep Awards)
- Honey Humphries, Student Chair of the Year (Student Rep Awards)
- Jacob Parkin, PG School Rep of the Year (Student Rep Awards)
- Lan Yuen Qi, Students for Students Award (NUMed Awards)
- Tom Klenerman, UG School Rep of the Year (Student Rep Awards)
- UG SELLL, Student-Staff Committee of the Year (Student Rep Awards)
- Vishakha Pandey, PG Course Rep of the Year (Student Rep Awards)
Outstanding Contribution to the Workplace
- Aimee Wager, Placement Student of the Year - small to medium sized business (Workplace Awards)
- Greg Dawson (Archery Club), Student Coach of the Year (AU Awards)
- Lucy Box, Apprentice of the Year – internal (Workplace Awards)
- Matteo Iannaccone, Intern of the Year (Workplace Awards)
- Michael Jeffrey, Apprentice of the Year – external (Workplace Awards)
- Millie Miller and Robin Edge (Student Pantry), Newcastle University Worker of the Year (Workplace Awards)
- Thomas Farrell, Placement Student of the Year – large business (Workplace Awards)
Outstanding Global, Intercultural & EDI Contribution
- Dodgeball Club, Contribution to Inclusivity (AU Awards)
- NUMed Social Club, Most Improved Society of the Year (NUMed Awards)
- Social Rounders Society, Inclusive Society of the Year (Societies Awards)
- South Asian Society, Representative Society of the Year (Societies Awards)
Outstanding Social and Civic Contribution
- AMSA Newcastle Chapter, Society Contribution to the Community (NUMed Awards)
- Beth Kellaway, Silent Impact Award (Community Impact Awards)
- Cory Gourley, Kindness in Action Award (Community Impact Awards)
- Dance Club, Community Impact Award (AU Awards)
- N.E.S.T, Sense of Belonging Builders (Community Impact Awards)
- NUMed Surgical Society, The Society’s Choice Award (NUMed Awards)
- SciFair, Community Outreach Icons (Community Impact Awards)
Outstanding Contribution to Innovation, sponsored by the Rob Wood Enterprising Futures Academy
A new award for 2026, sponsored by the Rob Wood Enterprising Futures Academy, recognising nominees who showcase innovation by:
Demonstrating initiative
Taking calculated risks
Identifying opportunities
Being resourceful in order to create something of value
- Beach Cleaning Society, Sustainability Stars (Community Impact Awards)
- Formula Student Society, Speciality Society of the Year (Societies Award)
- Isabel Smith, Runner-up of Placement Student of the Year – large business (Workplace Awards)
- Matteo Iannaccone, Intern of the Year (Workplace Awards)
- Thomas Farrell, Placement Student of the Year – large business (Workplace Awards)
- Will Digby (Squash Club), Sport Personality (AU Awards)
- Will Kilpatrick, Runner-up of Placement Student of the Year - small to medium sized business (Workplace Awards)
- Will Tyson (StuBrew), Individual Outstanding Contribution (Societies Award)
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.