Staff from across the college gathered with students and external guests at Sighthill on Thursday 17th May for the annual ECSA-llence Awards ceremony where awards are given to recognise those who make the student learning experience at Edinburgh College the best it can be.
This was the third annual awards, which give students the opportunity to show their thanks for the efforts put in by teaching and support staff. They awards are run by students, with them submitting all the nominations, and with a student judging panel to select the winners.
Congratulations to each of this year’s award winners who were selected from a whopping 728 nominations from students, demonstrating the respect and admiration of staff and class reps across the college. The 2018 ECSA-llence Award winners are:
Feedback Award
Jo Cockburn - Childhood Practice, Dental & Pharmacy Studies
Jo received consistent praise and nominations for their approach to not only giving feedback that helped learning, but also for her approach to actively seeking student feedback to tailor their teaching for an improved experience. We feel she has embodied the principles of good feedback and is a shining example to others.
Guiding Hand Award
Katie Thom - LDT
It was clear to the judging panel that Katie cares on the deepest level and truly worked to help students, offering kind words, but also wasn’t afraid to use a bit of tough love. Her ability to really get to the root of student issues and her work to develop solutions that kept students on track. She has the gratitude of many students who just needed support when things just weren’t going their way.
Innovation in the Classroom Award
Debbie Miller – Art & Design
Debbie received a staggering level of detail in her nominations - students felt she really goes above and beyond with her craft and skills to effectively support creative approaches to learning and teaching which benefit all of her students. The award panel where left impressed at the detail and scope of the nominations submitted for her. They have shown that creativity is possible in all aspects and that when you think big, and work with your students you can deliver something amazing.
Class Rep of the Year Award
Lewis Drummond – Computing
Lewis embodied everything we could have hoped for in a class rep and I think he might have been to more events than some of the full time officers. From class rep events to freshers' week, and numerous national events and dutifully promoting everything ECSA is working on. He has dedicated himself to his role & contributed massively to the life of the college. So much so we are genuinely upset he is moving on after the summer. I don’t think words really do justice to just how much of an utter star he has been.
Outstanding Lecturer of the Year Award
Jackie Dunbar – Hair Beauty & Complimentary Therapy
Jackie had an incredible number of nominations, well over 10 nominations that spoke at length about how incredible she had been, that her support and guidance, and quality of her teaching was second to none and really made her an absolute star that students gravitated towards. To quote ‘everyone needs someone they can count on while at college, and she absolutely never fails to have our backs’.