The University of Sunderland has been celebrating some of its outstanding young graduates in business, accounting and law, as seven award-winning graduates took to the stage as part of the summer Awards Ceremonies.
The seven were among the final students to receive their awards from outgoing Chancellor and Olympic legend Steve Cram OBE, before new Chancellor, award-winning musician Emeli Sandé MBE, took centre stage
Mark Biott, 21, from Hetton le Hole, has won two prizes. The Ede and Ravenscroft Prize, in recognition of the best performing undergraduate student in business; and the Komatsu Prize, for the best performance across business and finance management.
Mark, who graduated from BA (Hons) Business & Financial Management, says: “I feel that I have achieved more from my course than I ever thought was possible. This award feels as if all of the effort that I have put in whilst at University has truly paid off.”
Steevi Stewart, 25, from Consett, is the recipient of the CDC Wealth Management Prize, which recognises the BA (Hons) Accounting and Finance student of the year.
Steevi, who has already begun a new career in accountancy at Hitachi Rail EU, says: “Winning this award means a great deal to me. I have been passionate about accounting for a long time so being awarded a prize for doing so well in this area is such an honour.
“If you set your mind to something and really want it, good things will happen.”
Georgia Nixon, 22, from Hartlepool, has graduated BA (Hons) Business and Applied Marketing Management and has been awarded the DC Reclamation Prize, which is awarded for excellence achieved in practice, particularly in placement.
She says: “I worked very hard to achieve high grades alongside my job, so winning this prize is extremely rewarding and shows that my hard work and dedication has paid off.”
Morgan Burn, 22, from Usworth Hall, has won the Caterpillar Prize for BA (Hons) Business and Applied Human Resource Management.
Morgan achieved a First, and is using her degree as a springboard to travel the world, first to Fiji, where she is volunteering to teach English for a month, and then to the USA.
“I am moving to Florida to complete an internship in events management. I plan to be a consultant in relationship management – so a merge of hospitality and HR is something I feel is important to the next steps in my career.
“I believe that if you put a little bit of you in every piece of work, you will always achieve great things!”
Zoe-Leigh Mulvaney, 21, has won the CIPD North East Prize for best BA (Hons) Business and Human Resource Management student.
Zoe, from Sunderland, says: “I am extremely proud of the award, as it’s a mark of my hard work and achievement throughout my studies. I am now going on to study a Masters in Human Resources Management.”
Tuan Anh Dang, 24 is the highest performing student studying BSc (Hons) International Tourism and Hospitality Management, and has been awarded the Kielder Prize.
The student, from Vietnam, says, “I did not expect to receive such a meaningful title, but I will take it with pride, and I know that my family back home are also proud of me.”
Kaitlyn Ball, 21, from Hetton le Hole, has graduated with an LLB degree in Law, and is the winner of the Morton’s Solicitors Prize and the Ede and Ravenscroft Prize.
Kaitlyn graduated with a First, and is now planning to study for a Masters degree, specialising in either terrorism or criminal investigation. She says: “The award came as a huge surprise to me. I am so thankful for the award as it proves that all the late nights, tears and self-doubt has been worth it. It is just the confidence boost I needed.”