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Your Awards

It’s that time of year again when we celebrate and recognise all the students who have made outstanding contributions to the student experience at Sunderland!

Nominations are now open so keep an eye out for individuals or groups that you feel need to be recognised.

Submit your nominations

Your Awards design, featuring a number of pictures of students

Your Societies

This award is for an outstanding Society Committee member that has stood out as a role model for their hard work, dedication and effort. 

Things to consider when nominating an individual for this award:

  • Any committee members are eligible to be nominated for this award.
  • Has someone gone above and beyond their role?
  • Did an individual stand out to you for any positive reasons? Perhaps they dedicated a lot of time and effort to helping the society become the best it can be, perhaps they did something outstanding one time that made a huge difference to you.
  • Are they receptive to feedback from their members?
  • Have they shown a commitment to developing the society even further?
  • Did they make your experience as a society member or on the committee alongside them even better?

This award is for an outstanding academic society who have gone above and beyond to provide an excellent experience to its members.

For this award, the society must be classed as an academic one – aka, related to the course, School and/or Faculty.

Things to consider when nominating a society for this award:

  • Have they put on helpful and/or fun events that have assisted their members in their academic life – whether that’s their course, School and/or Faculty?
  • Do they run a number of successful and varied events or activities for their members?
  • Are they actively engaged with the SU and the opportunities available to them?
  • Have they shown a commitment to developing the society even further?
  • Are they receptive to feedback from their members?

This award is for an outstanding society who have gone above and beyond to provide an excellent experience to its members.

For this award, the society must be a non-academic society – aka anything that isn’t directly linked to the course.

Things to consider when nominating a society for this award:

  • Do they run a number of successful and varied events or activities for their members?
  • Are they actively engaged with the SU and the opportunities available to them?
  • Have they shown a commitment to developing the society even further?
  • Are they receptive to feedback from their members?

This award is for an outstanding event that was run by at least one society. For an event to be outstanding, it does not need to be large. Small scale events can be outstanding! Therefore, this award will not be judged on the scale of the event necessarily but rather, the impact that the event has had on the students. 

Things to consider when nominating an event for this award:

  • Has the event been memorable and beaten expectations?
  • Are the society receptive to feedback from event attendees or their members?
  • What made the event stand out?
  • How did it positively impact students or society members?

SU Legends

This award is for an individual or group (including societies) who has made an outstanding impact on student wellbeing through volunteering, campaigning, or project development.

Things to consider when nominating an individual or group for this award:

  • Have they improved wellbeing within the student community in some matter?
  • Do they regularly engage with the activities or events run by the SU?
  • Have they championed mental, physical, sexual or social wellbeing in some way?
  • Do they actively volunteer, campaign, run projects or events that impact student wellbeing in a positive way?

This award is for an individual or group (including societies) who have made an incredible impact on equality, diversity and inclusivity through events, volunteering, campaigning or project development.

Things to consider when nominating an individual or group for this award:

  • Have they made an outstanding impact on equality, diversity or inclusivity when they have run any events, campaigns or projects?
  • Did they see some injustice and campaign against it?
  • Have they actively campaigned or volunteered for appropriate causes?
  • Do they stand up against inequality or exclusivity?
  • Do they actively consider accessibility and inclusivity for any events or campaigns they are running?

Your Voice

This award recognises a Student Voice Rep who has contributed to academic improvements by working in partnership with the University and SU.

For this award, nominees must be a Student Voice Rep.

Things to consider when nominating an individual for this award:

  • Have they improved students’ academic experience within the faculty?
  • Do they make students feel heard and fairly represented?
  • Have they been receptive to feedback given to them by other students?
  • If you’re a course rep, have they been helpful to you in your role?

This award recognises a Course Rep who has contributed to academic improvements by being consistently engaged with the student body, the SU and the university.

For this award, nominees must be a Course Rep.

If the person you are nominating isn’t listed on the page but you believe they are a course rep, please get in touch and we’ll double check and add them if they are missing.

Things to consider when nominating an individual for this award:

  • Have they made a positive difference to students’ academic experience on the course that they represent?
  • Do they make students feel heard and fairly represented?
  • Have they been receptive to feedback given to them by other students?
  • Have they been open and approachable?
  • Have they kept you informed of any changes?

Your Volunteering

This award is also known as the Volunteer of the Year award and is for an individual or group who has volunteered throughout their student experience. This individual should inspire others and lead by example, actively seeking out additional opportunities to volunteer their time.

This award is named in honour of Katherine Lavender, who was an outstanding volunteer. Not only did Katherine take part in many volunteering opportunities in the community, Katherine also was an SU Buddy, part of the Welcome Crew and a School Coordinator (now known as Student Voice Reps). On top of that – Katherine was great at connect with other volunteers, keeping spirits high and making us all laugh!

Things to consider when nominating an individual or group for this award:

  • Do they actively engage with the SU and the opportunities available to them?
  • Have they shown a commitment to making a difference to the community?
  • Are they engaged in long term volunteering opportunities outside of the SU?
  • Does their kindness and effort inspire others?
  • Are they actively seeking out additional opportunities to help others?
  • Have they ran a campaign or project that has improved the community?
  • Are they a great Wellbeing Champion, SU Buddy, Course Rep, Society Committee Member, member of the Welcome Crew or any other voluntary role with the SU? Maybe even multiple!
  • Do they engage with multiple volunteering one-off events or have run their own?