Standout FSE volunteers recognised at online awards ceremony

Students, staff and alumni across the Faculty of Science and Engineering (FSE) have been celebrated for their exceptional volunteering efforts at a special awards ceremony held online on Thursday, 7 May 2020.

The University of Manchester's annual Volunteer of the Year Awards recognise the amazing work of volunteers throughout the University, highlighting local, national and international projects and the impact they have.

Wide-ranging projects relate to health, children and vulnerable adults, community cohesion, and more.

Moved online this year due to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, the awards were hosted for the first time on the @UOMVolunteering Facebook page. A record number of nominations were received - and many FSE entrants were selected for special recognition.

They included:

Alumni Volunteer of the Year

• Highly commended: Alexandra Bushel (Department of Chemistry) for her ongoing work with Girlguiding UK - as a guide leader, training other guide learners and volunteering in Nepal.

Student Group Volunteer of the Year

• Highly commended: The Closet, a pop-up charity shop led by Rose de Saint Michel to promote sustainability in the fashion industry, selling vintage, second-hand and sample clothing. 

Student Volunteer of the Year

• Highly commended: Mathieu Augustin (Department of Mechanical, Aerospace and Civil Engineering) for his volunteering work to reduce food waste with the food-sharing app OLIO.

• Commended: Isaac Campbell (Department of Chemical Engineering and Analytical Science) for his volunteering as an IT teacher for disadvantaged children in a deprived area of Salford.

• Third place: Thomas Lewis (Department of Mathematics) for his role as President of Run Wild Manchester, a free student running society that raises money for homelessness and awareness of issues such as mental health.

Social Justice Photography Competition

The results of the University's Social Justice Photography Competition were also announced as part of the ceremony - and FSE was again well represented. 

Those who placed highly from the Faculty included:

Runner up: Zakwan Bin Haji Mohtadza (School of Engineering) for 'Coronaracism' (image cropped for article)

Second place: Adil Ahmed (School of Natural Sciences) for 'A Plastic Refuge' (image cropped for article)

Third place: Kashif Sohail (School of Engineering) for 'Splendour at a Cost' (image cropped for article)

A huge congratulations to everyone across the Faculty for their efforts!