STUDENT OF THE YEAR AWARDS 2008
Bernadette Quick
University of Wolverhampton
WINNER OF
Barclays Capital Xcel Business and Commerce Student of the Year award
Barclays Capital Xcel Business and Commerce Student of the Year award
Samuel Kasumu (right) and Joanna Abeyie (left) from Elevation Networks presenting Bernadette Quick (centre) with her award
Bernadette Quick from the University of Wolverhampton won this year’s Barclays Capital Xcel Business and Commerce Student of the Year award. Bernadette is a mature student who returned to education after almost 20 years working in the marketing sector of the Engineering industry.
Working full-time at the University as a Marketing and Recruitment Co-ordinator, for the School of Engineering and Built Environment, Bernadette is on track for a First Class Honours degree in Marketing and is described by her tutors as an ‘exemplary student’. Bernadette has one more year to complete on her degree course and intends to go on to study a Master’s degree, or maybe even a Postdoctoral programme. Bernadette is regularly found helping other students and wants to join the lecturing profession.
I’m now confident that absolutely anything is possible and with the right motivation and support you can achieve anything really as I think I’ve proven.
Bernadette is a single parent and despite working full-time, she consistently achieves top grades on her course. Not only does Bernadette successfully juggle her home life, career and her studies but she has also had to overcome many personal challenges to get where she is today. In her teens, Bernadette was diagnosed with a rare illness called Addison’s disease which requires a daily course of medication.
As a side effect of her Addison’s disease, Bernadette contracted Osteoporosis but unperturbed by this, she did everything in her power to overcome this condition and is now almost clear of it due to strict observance of her medication and outright determination to succeed: “I’m now confident that absolutely anything is possible and with the right motivation and support you can achieve anything really as I think I’ve proven.” On winning her award, Bernadette said, “To be nominated in itself was an absolute joy but to actually win was even better. It’s given me so much confidence it’s unreal actually. I feel extremely privileged to have won and I think it’s also a reflection on the help I’ve had from the University of Wolverhampton’s Business School.”
Winning an award like this gives you a sort of underlying confidence that nobody else can give you.
Bernadette is an inspiration to mature students throughout the UK who are determined to succeed. Spurred on by winning this prize, Bernadette explains what the award means to her: “It really does count because it’s almost a rubber stamp on what you’ve been doing behind closed doors for years. Your friends and family will tell you how well you’re doing whereas when somebody externally tells you, it’s very objective and it really does build your confidence. Winning an award like this gives you a sort of underlying confidence that nobody else can give you. When somebody who doesn’t know you looks on your record and then corroborates that you’re doing well, it’s amazing.”
Congratulations Bernadette and keep excelling yourself!
Interview by: Emily Crane
