16 awards, 49 incredible shortlisted nominees and a night full of vegan cupcakes and pyrotechnics, last night we celebrated the societies, teachers, groups and individuals who have made your year at uni extra special! We are proud to share the winners of the night below.
Congratulations to all our winners and nominees, and a big thank you to everyone who joined us to make Guild Awards 2023 a night to remember!
Course Rep of the Year (Health & Life Sciences) - Eric Dos Santos De Andrade
Eric has been a dedicated medical school Course Rep for 4 years, and his efforts have led to meaningful change and tangible benefits for the medical school community. His unwavering kindness and support are a testament to his genuine interest in his peers’ well-being and success.
Course Rep of the Year (Humanities & Social Sciences) - Dileesh Vishwanath
Dileesh has been an active leader throughout his time as a Course Rep. Constantly seeking new ways to improve his peers’ university experience, he takes student feedback and actively searches for ways to implement this on his course
Course Rep of the Year (Science & Engineering) - James Barber
ames has been hard at work this year not only as Course Rep, but also as SSLC Chair for Computer Science. In these roles, he has proved to be an effective leader. He has added real value to his course through the introduction of extracurricular academic lectures, all thanks to James’ dedication to the role.
Teacher of the Year (Health & Life Sciences) - Dr George Ampat
Dr Ampat is motivational, inclusive and has a sense of humour that is essential during stressful times! His ability to approach complex topics in various ways makes each student feel valued, appreciated and included in his sessions, Championing each of his students’ success, it is clear he really cares about each of them going on to succeed.
Teacher of the Year (Humanities & Social Sciences) - Dr Gemma Ahearne
Dr Ahearne strives for inclusivity and equality. Her unconditional support and encouragement bring out the best in her students and makes them confident in voicing their opinions and joining discussions. Her support for the SSPC Society has helped connect students with external professionals and is just one example of her going above and beyond to support all her students’ progression.
Teacher of the Year (Science & Engineering) - Dr Sebastian Wild
Supportive, engaging and innovative are how Dr Wild’s students describe him. He is committed to making every voice heard, bringing a sense of community to the classroom and making sure every student has the opportunity to share their ideas.
Outstanding Support Award – Deonne Hill
Deonne has been an inspiration to the students she has helped this year, particularly in her support for those in receipt of the Asylum Seekers Bursary. She supports these students on every step of their university journey and is always ready to help, responding quickly and full of encouragement. She goes above and beyond in her role and brings a smile to all the students she helps.
Student Changemaker of the Year – Georgina Andrews
Georgina has been making positive change both in her student community and across Merseyside. She looks to make higher education a better place for students, by attending NUS conferences and educating others on the importance on student-staff solidarity as well as helping with food collections throughout her local community.
Sustainability Champion – Tushar Shivaji Melge
Committed to educating others, Tushar has participated in many sustainability opportunities this year. In his involvement with the Climate Action Network and Curriculum Mapping, he looked for ways to make the university more sustainable, whilst his work as a Green Fingers volunteer and Gardening with the Guild shows his dedication not only for guiding others to live more sustainably, but also make a real impact in his community.
Halls’ Student Committee of the Year – Tudor Close
Tudor Close HSC have been dedicated to representing their residents and creating a welcoming and inclusive community. They have shown great leadership, communication and organisation skills with the multiple events, trips and activities they’ve ran. They have created a strong community of students through their collaborations with other Halls and events that cater to an array of backgrounds and preferences.
Biggest Impact on the City of Liverpool (sponsored by Brownlow Health) - Jessica Lwin and Help the Homeless Society
Help the Homeless Society work throughout the year to make a difference in their community and across the city. They work to raise money to support those who are sleeping rough and host events that welcome individuals and families across Liverpool. They have organised workshops such as the Refugee Council Talk and Merseyside Period Project and worked closely with local charity The White Chapel Centre to help educate students on a variety of issues that affect those in our community.
As President of Humanitarian Society and Secretary of Asylum Seeking and Refugees for Help the Homeless Society, Jessica has used this year to organise and assist in events that raise money and awareness to those in need. She has led on campaigns such as the Myanmar Cultural Festival, which raised over £5000, and the Access to Healthcare talk, which spread awareness about asylum seekers.
As a leader, she also assists and advises other students who want to fundraise for causes they are passionate about. She uses her experience to help promote their events and is always encouraging and supportive.
New Society of the Year (sponsored by Rock Box) - Darts Society
The Darts Society has allowed likeminded students to share their love of darts in a space that simply didn’t exist before. They have thrived since their creation, with memberships growing and two teams in the University Darts UK North- West League. Their weekly socials have built meaningful friendships and a community that genuinely cares about each other.
“If I could sum up the society in three words; fun, friendly and one hundred and eeeiiiiiightyyyyyyyyyyy!”
Fundraiser of the Year – Turkish Society
The Turkish Society devoted themselves to raising money following the earthquake in Turkey and Syria. In a week-long campaign, where they created and sold amazing baked goods every day they raised £6500. The campaign gained huge support from countless people who visited the stall over the week.
Guild Values Award – Liverpool Debating Union
Through a range of training sessions, socials and collaborations with other universities, Liverpool Debating Union has made a lasting impact on their members’ student experience. They have provided members with the opportunity to represent their university, debate on topics that they’re interested in and have created a welcoming environment that has created a positive space for all involved.
Inclusivity Award (sponsored by Brownlow Health) - BME Medics Society
Racial and cultural inclusivity has been a priority of BME Medics Society this year. From their Black History Month activity and fundraising for the Sickle Cell charity to the creation of the Culture Ball and their first Inequalities in Healthcare Conference, BME Medics have spent the year spreading awareness and spotlighting talent from across cultures.
Society of the Year – University of Liverpool Dance Society
University of Liverpool Dance Society have built a supportive and inclusive environment, with a kind and welcoming committee who have worked hard to welcome more students and helped members become more versatile dancers. They have held multiple social events, won over 20 trophies across 4 competitions, and raised over £2500 for charity. They continue to gain feedback from members and look to provide the best training through their close relationship with external teachers. They’ve even been invited to BBC Children in Need and to take part in the Eurovision parade!