More Than a Win: Honouring Our School's Shared Success

Celebrating Our Staff and Students

The 1839 Awards celebrate the ways that both staff and students contribute to student experience and life at the University of Chester. This year was the 13th annual awards, and I was nominated as Lecturer of the Year, Postgraduate Supervisor of the Year, and Personal Academic Tutor (PAT) of the Year.

As staff, these nominations mean a lot. Many of the categories involve students nominating you, and it is heartening to read what the students have to say and see the impact you are having. That impact is part of what makes working in a university so fulfilling.

PAT of the Year!

I was thrilled to be shortlisted as PAT of the Year! The PAT role is central to the University's support system – PATs provide academic and pastoral support for students throughout their university career. I enjoy getting to know students and learning about their interests and providing relevant advice – we're also a consistent point of contact and this typically culminates in writing a student's final reference. Therefore, it's important to get to know students even if everything is going okay!

School of Natural Sciences Nominations

I was also delighted to see that a number of other staff and students in the School of Natural Sciences had also been shortlisted for awards: Dr Christina Stanley for Wellbeing Advocate, Dr Kate Wise for Equality and Diversity Advocate of the Year, Pinkett Howard (one of our Marine Biology students) for Student Voice Representative of the Year, and Thisanda Ayuka Thelikada Pallia Guruge (one of our Physics students) for Student of the Year. I'm so proud to be part of a community of students and staff such as ours.

A Night to Remember

The awards ceremony was held in Chester Town Hall and it was the perfect venue for the occasion. I enjoyed meeting colleagues from across the University and celebrating together. Tensions were raised as the winners were announced across the evening… luckily, I only had to wait until after the starter (duck spring roll) for my category. And, after an improvised drumroll, it was announced I had won!

Over the next few days, I received many messages of congratulations from my colleagues, and I feel this award honours the hard work we all put in. Indeed, across the School of Natural Sciences we had a bumper crop of staff nominations which I've collated for you below…

• Dr Bethan Stallwood – Lecturer of the Year
• Dr Candice Owen – Lecturer of the Year
• Dr Christina Stanley – Wellbeing Advocate of the Year and Lecturer of the Year
• Dr Dan Baldock – Lecturer of the Year and PAT of the Year
• Dr Emmeline Howarth – PAT of the Year
• Erin Roberts – Professional Services Staff of the Year – Staff nominated
• Hannah Beer – Professional Services Staff of the Year – Staff nominated
• Jaden Allcock – Professional Services Staff of the Year – Staff nominated
• Dr James Nicholson – Professional Services Staff of the Year – Staff nominated
• Dr Jo Beukers-Stewart – PAT of the Year
• Dr Kate Wise – Equality and Diversity Advocate of the Year
• Dr Krista McLennan – Lecturer of the Year
• Laurence Goosey – Professional Services Staff of the Year – Staff nominated
• Lizzie Barnett – Professional Services Staff of the Year – Staff nominated
• Dr Michal Zatrak – Professional Services Staff of the Year – Staff nominated
• Dr Nicola Beesley – Lecturer of the Year, Postgraduate Supervisor of the Year and PAT of the Year
• Rachel Atkinson – Professional Services Staff of the Year – Staff nominated
• Stefan Banin-Plockey – Professional Services Staff of the Year – Staff nominated
• Dr Vinny Verma – Lecturer of the Year

So, if you are a prospective student interested in one of the courses we offer in the School of Natural Sciences, or are a supporter of a prospective student, you can be assured that you would be joining a School and a university with student experience and student support at its heart!

And finally, a big thank you to all the staff and students who took the time to nominate each other, and to Chester Students' Union who administer the awards.

Find Out More

Find out what our Natural Sciences courses have to offer you, including supportive lecturers and a professional focus, on our course pages. Or why not book a visit and find out more about life at Chester?