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Xcel Student of the Year Awards 2009 honours outstanding students

On Thursday 21 January, Xcel Magazine presented awards to 18 exceptional students from all over the UK at its second annual Xcel Student of the Year awards ceremony, sponsored by Barclays Capital.

Winners, guests and sponsors were invited to share in this celebration of success at a gala dinner and awards presentation held at the Tower Hotel in central London.

Awards trophies were presented to winners from a wide range of subject categories with the overall award of Xcel Student of the Year 2009 going to Tara Webb of Greenwich University.

Xcel judges received nominations from every type of background and ethnic group, from all classes and from those coping with challenging circumstances. All were nominated by their colleges and universities.

Our deserving winners included those starting their studies encumbered by family deprivation, death, injury, ill-health, as well as responsibilities such as being single parents or carers for dependent or ill family members. Some have suffered physical violence and some are refugees from the most challenging of backgrounds.

Xcel Magazine was founded 4 years ago to encourage widening participation among women, multi-ethnic groups and the disabled. The Xcel Student of the Year awards are an annual attempt to celebrate the successes of students in these groups, in order to inspire and encourage 16-19 year olds.

We would like to thank all of our sponsors and say a huge congratulations to the fantastic achievements of all of our winners.

And the winners were….

• Student of the Year 2009: Tara Webb (Greenwich University)
• Apprentice: Steven Butt (South Thames College)
• Best Institute of Widening Participation: University of the West of England
• Built Environment: Yvonne Ambo (Kingston University)
• Business and Commerce: Fizza Ilya (Bradford University)
• Creative Arts, Media and Design: Jonathan Forrester & Rebecca Elvin (University of Huddersfield)
• Economics and Finance: Ines Pajovic (University of the West of England)
• Education: Noor-us-Sabah Bodla (Northumbria University)
• Engineering and Technology: Wasiu Popoola (Northumbria University)
• Entrepreneur: Louise Halswell (University of the West of England)
• Fashion, Hair and Beauty: Sindi Chan (Lewisham College)
• Further Education: Erica Gateley (Metskill)
• Humanities and Social Sciences: Emma Cranmer (University of Huddersfield)
• IT and Computer Science: Fiona Hopkins (University of Wolverhampton)
• Law: Tara Webb (University of Greenwich)
• Performing Arts: Nessah Muthy (Central School of Speech and Drama)
• Science: Chung Thong Lim (Queen Mary University of London)
• Sports: Mustafa Sarkar (Loughborough University)
• Student of Courage: Jade Wallis (Leeds Metropolitan University)