University students celebrate their achievements at inaugural Activities Ball

Students from Falmouth University and the University of Exeter’s Cornwall Campuses celebrated a fantastic year of achievement at their awards ceremony last Thursday.

For the first time, students from FXU’s 153 activity groups were invited to attend a sit-down meal at the Falmouth Hotel with awards presented throughout the evening.

The event recognised the efforts of students across the full range of FXU’s activity groups, from fundraising and volunteering to sporting triumphs, sustainable projects and societies.

So far this year, students have logged over 23,000 volunteering hours and raised over £50,000. The FXU Activities Team has supported more than 4,200 student-led activities and over 7,000 memberships have been purchased to the various activity groups, including the likes of Quidditch, Penryn Memory Café and Green Living.

The evening was hosted by elected Students’ Union Presidents, Harry Bishop (FXU President Community and Welfare) and Jamal Clarke (FXU President Student Experience). The night also showcased student talents through performances, featuring a set from FXU’s Orchestra.

Students were dressed to impress and were given the opportunity to mingle with VIP guests and presenters, including representatives from the universities, local mayors and Pirate FM’s Neil Caddy.

Neil Caddy: “Being on the judging panel for these awards was very tricky because all of the nominees were leaders in their own right. It’s an honour to be invited to present the awards. While it’s great to better the student experience, it’s amazing for the communities of which they’re in as well. I think there’s a great legacy in many instances and the local community should be very thankful. It’s a great evening to be able to champion their hard work and determination.”

This year saw the creation of several new awards, including the award for Overall Contribution to FXU Activities. Winner Sarah Redman works with an astounding nine extracurricular groups on top of her studies and is President Elect Student Experience.

Sarah Redman: “My third year at university has been absolutely incredible, from leading a team of ten fundraisers to climb six volcanos in Guatemala for Hope for Children, to helping run the student newspaper, to being FXU Societies Officer, to project managing Voices and more. None of this would have been possible without the amazing support of FXU and I am so so honoured to have been awarded Best Overall Contribution to FXU Activities.”

Jamal Clarke, FXU President Student Experience: "It was great to host our very first FXU Activities Ball. I feel that we have long been overdue an event like this, where we all dress up nicely, have a sit down meal and celebrate all of the great things we do. The nominees are all amazing and do so much to make the student experience in Cornwall what it is, so we thank them for all that they’ve done and hope they enjoyed the evening.”

A big thank you to Awards sponsors Flexsi Fitness and The Games Room.

This year’s winners were:

Societies Awards

Most Outstanding Society Committee Member: Daniel Wilson

Outstanding Society Event or Project of the Year: FXU GeogSoc

Most Improved Society of the Year: Video Games Society

Society of the Year: Wild Doc Soc

RAD Awards

Fundraising Event of the Year: Rally4Shelterbox (pictured below)

Most Significant Contribution to Fundraising: The RAD Committee (pictured below)

Volunteering Awards

Most Outstanding SLVP Committee Member: Jenny Lawrie

Student-Led Volunteer Project of the Year: Generation Wild

Community Volunteer of the Year: Luke Tester (pictured below)

Sports Awards

Sports Person of the Year: Megan Bailey

Most Outstanding Sports Club Committee Member: Lauren DeGrange

Most Improved Sports Club of the Year: FXU Athletics Club

Sports Club of the Year: FXU Athletics Club (pictured below)

Outstanding Sporting Achievement: Matthew Chapman

Activities Awards

Newcomer of the Year: Hispanic Society

Member of the Year: Victoria Hoare

Sustainable Project or Event of the Year: Penryn Produce

Collaboration of the Year: Don’t DisAbility, The Chorus, Events Society & Ladies Football

Outstanding Contribution to Student Experience: Kirsten Perkins

Overall Contribution to FXU Activities: Sarah Redman (pictured below)

 

Photo credit: Isobel Cunningham