The glow of the elegant Attenborough Centre for the Creative Arts (ACCA) venue set the perfect stage for an evening of celebration and applause during the recent Sussex Education Awards 2024. Held on April 18, the event was co-hosted by Professor Michael Luck, Deputy Vice-Chancellor, and Professor Kate O’Riordan, the Pro-Vice-Chancellor for Education and Students.

This evening was not just about a ceremony; it was a heartfelt tribute to the inspiring individuals and teams who have significantly influenced the educational journey at the University of Sussex. Sussex Education Awards 2024 received 600 nominations, with approximately 450 submitted by students. The judging panel, composed of students and staff members, meticulously reviewed every nomination and selected winners for five categories: Teaching to Disrupt Award, World Readiness Award, The Better World Award, Learning Together Award, and Inclusive Sussex Award.

As the night unfolded, Professor Michael Luck commanded the stage with grace and warmth, guiding the audience through the evening's festivities. His presence added a sense of gravitas to the occasion, emphasising the significance of the accolades being bestowed upon the deserving recipients.

The celebration began with the screening of a short video titled “For a Better World”, showcasing six inspiring tutors at Sussex who brought innovative educational approaches to the classroom. This video demonstrated the outstanding commitment of staff members at Sussex and their positive engagement in their classroom through activities such as outdoor education and additional task challenges.

Under the guidance of Kate O'Riordan and Michael Luck, 31 awards in five categories were presented. Each award highlighted how the nominees pushed boundaries and created inclusive, engaging learning environments. The variety of award categories recognised everything from innovative teaching methods to transformative community engagement efforts, showcasing the diverse ways the Sussex community enhances student life.

Paul McConnell, reflecting on his World Readiness Award, shared a simple yet profound sentiment, "I am happy and surprised. I am obviously proud to win it. It's an honour for those of us who teach and strive to build meaningful relationships with students."

Every handshake and congratulation exchanged among attendees demonstrated their unwavering commitment to fostering a better culture of learning in the Sussex community. Following the ceremony, every attendee headed to the cafe and outside area and enjoyed drinks with canapés.

Besides celebrating the winners, we were saddened to dedicate an award in memory of a beloved member of our community who passed away earlier this year. Victoria Marrache, a cherished member of the Student Advice and Guidance team, was honoured with the Inclusive Sussex award. Victoria embraced her interactions with students with unmatched empathy and compassion. She provided personalised support, respecting their individual journeys and empowering them to overcome difficulties, ultimately leaving a lasting impact on their lives. Victoria's remarkable attributes and commitment to her position at Sussex will leave a lasting impression on everyone fortunate enough to have crossed paths with her.

As a student at Sussex, we are grateful to have enthusiastic tutors and staff everywhere. Their genuine passion for bringing together students of all backgrounds through a variety of considerate approaches makes our time at Sussex so special. This dedication fosters an inclusive and dynamic learning environment, where each student's unique strengths and perspectives are valued. The final video, about what Sussex staff members mean to students created by two student digital media creators was screened at the end of the ceremony.

Each award was a story, a snippet of the larger narrative that the University of Sussex weaves through its commitment to education.

Congratulations to all the 2024 Education Awards nominees and winners!

The Teaching to Disrupt Award:

• Dyuti Ailawadi (Global Studies)
• David M. Berry (Media, Arts and Humanities)
• Elizabeth Mills (Global Studies)
• Lucila Newell (Global Studies)
• Nat Arias (Global Studies)
• Pablo Iglesias-Rodriguez (Law Politics and Sociology)
• Warrick Roseboom (Engineering and Informatics)

The World Readiness Award:

• Carole Becker (Mathematical and Physical Sciences)
  
  
• Luis Ponce Cuspinera, Helena Joyce, Luke Mitchell (Engineering and Informatics) Kathryn Mountford, Luke Mitchell (Careers and Entrepreneurship) Graziana Di Pede (Business)
  
  
• Kaz Field (Careers and Entrepreneurship) Mark Paget, Ruth Murrell-Lagnado, Mark Bagley, Greig Joilin - (Careers and Entrepreneurship Life Sciences Curriculum Development Team)
  
  
• Paul McConnell (Media Arts and Humanities)
  
  
• Helen Power-Hosking, Rebecca Nash (Estates and Facilities) Mirela Barbu (Business)

The Better World Award:

• Atusa Saeipour (Psychology)
• Chris Baker, Becki Cook, Anna Farlow, Jamie Smith (Chemistry Technical staff, Life Sciences)
• Janine Thorogood, Student Experience

The Learning Together Award:

• Adnan Quisar, Amy Cho, Anton Vasiljevs, Charlotte Richardson, Dexter Shepherd, George Smith, Guy Abdelmalek, Hugo Abbott, Jen Coney Critchley, Jude Birch, Layton Burchell, Max De La Nourgerede, Mei Happs, Paula Seidler, Tom Shoesmith, Tori Nevins, Tom Harwood, Val Knight
  (The Informatics Peer Assisted Learning team, Engineering and Informatics)
  
  
• Doran Amos, Apichaya Luathairattanametha, Kiran Lalli, Milly Rose-Wheatley, Nik Mylona, Soliana Markos, Sophie Thorne
  (Life Sciences)
  
  
• Elif Ucurum, Sasha Ritchie, Marah Rustom, Tobi Ojofeitimi, Aung Kaung Myat, Mark Labib, PJ Morrill, Jun Zhao, Harry Tautz, Yusif Al-Doujaily, Mark Rippingham, Max Goldbloom, Kate Howland, Nauris Kalnins
  (Engineering and Design Mentors, Engineering and Informatics)
  
  
• Rebecca Prentice, Amy Breij, Lizzie Burtenshaw, Aisha Campbell, Nyah Chin, Ellie Cockcroft, Jules Deluchi, Mia Diaz, Maisie Farnham, Netta Hakak, Zoe Khurshid-Madsen, Sam Lack, Oskar Leith, Yan Luo, Laurie May-Miller, Dan Mckeever, Flora Meredith, Emma Newman, Isabella Rhys-Jones Hernandez, Caius Royle, Hannah Skwarska, Elphie Taylor, Anna van den Bos, Rach Vowden, Bertie Walker, Samantha Wing
  (Global Studies)

The Inclusive Sussex Award:

• Victoria Marrache (Student Advice & Guidance)
• Amanda Griffiths (Counselling Wellbeing and Residential Life)
• Ayomikun Idowu (Business School)
• Ambra Moroncini (Media, Arts and Humanities)
• Emily Baker (Media, Arts and Humanities)
• Joanne Chee (Student Advice and Guidance)
• James Van Yperen, Konstantinos Koumatos, Michael Taylor, Antoine Dahlqvist (Mathematical and Physical Sciences)
• Karis Jade Petty (Global Studies)
• Rosie Jones (Student Experience)
• Sarah Ison (Student Experience)
• Xiangming Tao (Tommy) (Business School)
• Karen Okuefuna-Budd (Education and Social Work)

Jenny Choi studies Media and Communications. When not blogging or studying, she enjoys strolling around the Brighton Beach area.

Chowdhury Mohammad Sayedul Abrar (Abrar) is studying for an MA in Journalism and Documentary Practice.