Every year, the SU Awards give us the chance to pause and recognise the people who make student life genuinely better. This year's winners are an exceptional group: reps who went far beyond their job descriptions, societies that built real communities, and individuals who gave up their own time to help others. We are proud to celebrate each and every one of them.
Exeter Academic Rep of the Year — George William
George William is a Year 2 Rep for BMBS, and from the very first meeting it was clear he was something special. He arrives prepared, brings a wide range of peer feedback, and always comes with solutions, not just problems. His maturity and collaborative spirit have built a genuine partnership with staff in driving meaningful change across the BMBS programme.
A standout example: George identified that lecture recordings from a block of Cornwall sessions weren't being uploaded to ELE, and gathered additional evidence from peers in Devon to show the issue was widespread. In flagging it proactively, he uncovered an underlying technical fault — one that was fixed not just for those lectures, but for all future ones. That kind of instinct, to act before a problem becomes a crisis, is rare and invaluable.
Exeter Education Excellence Award — Dr Edvard Glücksman
Dr Edvard Glücksman teaches with the kind of energy and genuine curiosity that students carry with them long after they graduate. He brings alumni into tutorials, weaves real-world news into weekly topics, and holds one-to-one sessions to support students both personally and professionally. Above all, he creates a classroom where every voice matters and every student feels seen. He is, in every sense, the kind of educator students are lucky to encounter.
Falmouth Academic Rep of the Year — Siobhan Dearling
Those who nominated Siobhan Dearling describe her simply as the most dedicated rep in the SU and it is difficult to argue otherwise. In her time in the role, she has secured dedicated lockers for her course, driven changes to modules and timetables, stepped up to represent students on courses that lacked their own reps, launched a social media account to champion robotics and computing in Cornwall, and spent her summer gathering feedback from graduates to ensure their experiences continue to shape the course. She is tireless, thorough, and thoroughly deserving of this recognition.
Falmouth Education Excellence Award — John Boddy
John Boddy is, to many students, far more than an academic. He is a warm and empathetic presence on campus who works actively to ensure that students and staff from all backgrounds feel genuinely valued. His commitment to inclusion is not something he speaks about, it is something he practises, every single day. The nomination speaks for itself.
Event of the Year — Islamic Society Open Iftar
The Islamic Society's Open Iftar brought together over 110 people from all faiths, backgrounds, and cultures to break fast, share food from across the world, and simply enjoy each other's company. With traditional décor, cultural dress, and a moving and honest presentation on the meaning of Ramadan, the event was, in the words of one attendee, a genuine ten out of ten. It was a beautiful reminder of what student communities can look like at their very best.
Outstanding Committee Member — Jacob Saunders
Jacob Saunders — known to his teammates as 'Barry' — has been the backbone of CSM Hockey for years, serving as both treasurer and former president. Injury kept him off the pitch for much of this season, but it never kept him away from the sport or his team. He showed up to training, mentored newer players, supported the committee through every challenge, and was reliably the person with an answer to every question. His commitment to the club goes far beyond any title he has held.
Society of the Year — Penryn First Aid Society
What began as three people has grown into something remarkable. Penryn First Aid Society now runs bi-weekly training sessions, delivers multi-agency scenarios alongside HM Coastguard, Cornwall Fire and Rescue, and SWAST, and offers students the genuinely rare opportunity to volunteer as Community First Responders to 999 calls. Real lives have been saved as a result of the skills this society has helped students develop. In every sense, this is a society that matters.
Sports Club of the Year — CSM Men's Hockey
CSM Men's Hockey has shown this year what an inclusive and respectful male sports culture can look like in practice. The club raised an impressive £3,098 for Movember, made a concerted effort to bring freshers into the squad from day one, and built connections across campus through mixed socials. They are a club that understands sport is about more than what happens on the pitch — and their community is better for it.
Inclusivity Award — Naabil Khan
Naabil Khan is the founder of Skin For All, an educational platform covering more than 30 dermatological conditions across diverse skin tones. The platform has now surpassed 10,000 page views — a testament to how urgently this kind of resource is needed. Beyond the platform, Naabil has contributed to a CEDAW consultation, spoken at the Truro School International Women's Day Business Breakfast, and consistently championed health equity in Cornwall and far beyond. This award is well-earned recognition for work that is making a real difference.
Dedication to the Students' Union — Siobhan Dearling
For the second time, Siobhan Dearling's name is called and rightly so. Her dedication as a department representative goes above and beyond anything that could reasonably be expected. She has worked persistently to drive meaningful change in the Games Academy's computing department: securing lockers, influencing module content, improving timetables, and pushing for more relevant teaching. When faced with resistance, she has remained focused and determined. When students in other departments lacked representation, she stepped up to advocate for them too. Her promotion of computing and robotics on social media, her outreach to prospective students, and her ongoing collection of graduate feedback all speak to a commitment that extends well beyond any formal role. Siobhan is, simply put, exceptional.
Campaign of the Year — Angel Rusu, *Stop AI FXU*
Angel Rusu's Stop AI FXU campaign gathered over 800 student signatures against the incorporation of generative AI into creative courses — a number that speaks to just how strongly students feel about the future of their education. The campaign also produced a widely celebrated anti-AI zine featuring contributions from creatives across the university, and staged an exhibition at Woodlane in celebration of what the university was built to nurture: real, human creativity. It was a campaign run with passion, precision, and purpose.
Fundraising Award — Isabelle Beckett
Isabelle Beckett ran 50 miles in a single day for The Women's Centre Cornwall, raising £1,045. She did so in the face of coastal storms, a recent diagnosis of Functional Neurological Disorder, and over a year of preparation that tested her physically and mentally at every turn. The charity nominated her for a BBC fundraising award. It is very hard to imagine a more deserving recipient of this one.
Andy Hocking Award for Work in the Community — Sammy Kraft
Since his first year at university, Sammy Kraft has voluntarily responded to hundreds of 999 calls as a Community First Responder — through nights, weekends, and the worst that Storm Goretti could throw at him. Beyond his own service, he founded Penryn First Aid Society and helped 15 fellow students qualify as responders alongside him. He has given, and continues to give, an extraordinary amount of himself to the community around him.
The Daniel Palmer Award — Winner of Winners — Sammy Kraft
There could only be one winner of the Daniel Palmer Award this year. Sammy Kraft's combination of personal service, community-building, and quiet, consistent dedication represents everything this award stands for. Congratulations, Sammy, this one is thoroughly deserved.
Congratulations to every winner and nominee at this year's SU Awards!