The Big Student Thank You Awards

Catrina is always willing to help no matter how many times you ask. She has made my journey through college amazing and fun. Catrina has helped me understand anything I was stuck on every single time I asked her. She’s been the best lecturer ever :)

Your classes are always so fun and informative!

She is been a great lecturer and She is funny.

He’s a fab lecturer

You’ve helped me get through the hnc course and (I hope) gave me a glowing reference for UCAS

She did a great job the whole time she had our class!

Adelle has always been supportive of me since I started I wouldn’t have made it as far as I have without her

I’d like to nominate Adelle Smilie for Lecture of the Year. Throughout the year, she has shown incredible patience and unwavering support. She believed in me even when I struggled to believe in myself, constantly reminding me that things would get better and that I was capable of succeeding. Her positivity, trust, and encouragement made a real difference in my learning experience, and I’m really grateful for everything she’s done.

I cannot even begin to describe all the ways Adelle has helped me over the years
I wouldn't be the hairdresser I am today if it weren't for her
she's a gem

She has helped me making coming back to college really easy. She has helped me through a really tough time and has been very understanding when I’ve not been in the right mindset to concentrate, she’s been very patient with me and my anxiety and has helped me get to where I am now
Thank you Claire

Nicola is a caring, motivational lecturer. She wants the best for her students She genuinely cares. This shows in her approach.

Through out my 2nd year of my course. Viv has non stopped helped me through my course. Shes such a smiley lecturer, always making everyone laugh. She’s been such a good role model for all the students in the beauty feild. Viv should be recognised for this!

She’s always there if you need help, need a chat or just a little catch up. She always makes sure we are all feeling well, ready to start the day with a smile. Viv is such a great lecturer and such a kind soul.

I am nominating Anne because she is an incredible lecturer, who has supported me through every step of my college journey. Anne’s passion for her job got me hooked on psychology and has shown me that I can do something meaningful with subjects that I enjoy. She has taught me in a way that worked for me and made learning fun and enjoyable and made it so I looked forward to everyday coming into college. I cannot put it into words how grateful I am for all of her support and encouragement and reassurance throughout my time at college. Anne is welcoming and encouraging and her passion fills you with excitement to study the subjects she teaches and I could not have asked for a better lecturer

Anne is one of the best lecturers I have had the pleasure of knowing. She is so kind, caring, and supportive, she always done everything she could to make her classes engaging and exciting.

I really struggled with math in secondary school and used to hate going into math classes. Since starting my course, Gavin has approached math in a way that is much more comfortable, I have succeeded in math so much more since taking his class and I really appreciate him for it!

Hugh is a fantastic lecturer, his rapport with the class makes for a relaxed and fun atmosphere that really helps with engagement and confidence in the learning. He's extremely approachable and understanding when needed and never fails to give advice and encouragement. This all combined makes for a very warm and friendly class environment, any student would be lucky to have him and the whole class is hopeful to have him again next term. if anyone deserves recognition for their work, its Hugh.

He is such a kind and helpful teacher, really appreciate his effort and support during my journey in the college. Big thanks!

hugh is great! is always understanding and helps alot

I want to say thank you as she has helped me very much this year with my sociology unit. And been a massive support to myself and other students. Im a older student so the support has been very helpful.

I want to say thank ypu because she has helped me a lot this year with my sociology and is just one of the best lectures.

Julia has made me feel supported and looked out for despite there being many others in the class. She has always taught us with patience and not rushed through the lessons in Sociology which is frustrating when it happens as I feel I won’t and haven’t managed to pick up anything. You can tell she enjoys and cares about her job as a lecturer as it shines through, she’s the best and I feel lucky to have had her this year!

I am nominating Julia Stark as she has been a great lecturer for Sociology in explaining what Sociology is and preparing us for our Level 5 exams, and im very thankful that oour class had such a great lecturer for Sociology.

Throughout my life I've always struggled with maths and you took the time and patience to make sure I understood. I'm very grateful for your help.

For always listening to students stressful rants and having the patience to explain things multiple times. Also providing space for students to study different subjects occasionally when it’s needed.

Lesley has genuinely helped out the class with every single problem that occurred and goes above and beyond for every single lesson.

She made me look forward to the class, made me laugh and most importantly blossomed my interest in psychology, which I am now going to study at uni! Melissa is truly an amazing teacher and I am so lucky and grateful she was my lecturer ☺️

For always supporting us as best you can and pushing us towards our future

I think that Rae is extremely good at explaining the work we are doing and I find her class to be really engaging aswell as a really good fit to my learning style. She always breaks down things nice and easy and I love her wee stories.

Great lecturer! Funny, kind and very understanding.

His support throughout the year has helped me build my skills and confidence in my ability. He even took time out of his busy schedule to prepare for a national competition which we did really well in. Most importantly his connections in the industry helped me secure a job that I really enjoy and will take my career to the next level.

Thank you Chris!

You have had a positive impact on my learning and have encouraged me to keep going when times were difficult for me so thank you

I want to say thank you to Stephanie tanner because ever since I’ve been at college and been on the course she has been wonderful and i recently had something happen and she has been there for me when I need a chat or need time out she has helped me so much and I couldn’t thank her enough for her chats and wise words

Alex is always there for his students, he really cares about how we're doing. He has supported us throughout the course, provides great feedback, and is always communicating with us to make sure we’re on track! So yeah, thanks Alex!

Alex has always been an incredibly supportive lecturer. He consistently shares his extensive design knowledge and problem solving skills, providing the most valuable insights into every project. His ability to explain complex concepts with clarity and patience inspires confidence and fosters a deeper understanding among us - his students. Alex's dedication to his students' success goes beyond course works; he encourages innovative thinking, organised workflow, and motivates everyone to strive for excellence in their work. Massive thank you!

Always been consistent with his feedback and help. He’s great sense of humor. Always been practical and useful. Will miss him a lot!

Chris' approach to teaching is not only deeply engaging but also tailored to meet the needs of each student. His ability to break down challenging topics into clear, manageable parts demonstrates his expertise and commitment to education, inspiring each of us to reach our full potential. Huge thank you!

You have been helped me in this course a lot, I have been really appreciate your support, thanks.

She is just brilliant. Always there to support and challenge to get the best out of you. Thanks Debbie

Debbie is exceptional, she makes sure to give regular 1-1 feedback and consistently critiques and challenges work to ensure you keep pushing yourself to fulfil every potential that you didn't even know you had!

You have been truly inspirational as a tutor and transformed my understanding of sculpture and my confidence in my own abilities. You have taught me to experiment and embrace imperfection and this has been really liberating for me. I could not have produced the final piece that I did without you freely sharing your skills and knowledge and getting the balance right between challenging and supporting me. You have been exemplary in your 'person centred' approach to me and each student in my group, going out of your way to unearth new information on disparate topics for us all. (Even if I did threaten to block you on Teams because you sent me so many links to research !!!!). Thank you for everything. You have made my year.

Because she was been very helpful during the whole course

She always makes the classroom a fun friendly environment and adapts herself to fit everyone's needs

Lorna is brilliant learning assistant who is always more than happy to help with student learning in any form it may take. She is incredibly supportive, encouraging and takes a keen interest in students work. Thank you Lorna!

Thank you for helping and supporting me in different ways and areas

Nat, you just know how to do things. And are always available to help. Thanks for everything you did this year on FAD. I really appreciated your help. Have a great summer. Cheers!

They were an excellent lecturer

Thank you for helping and supporting me in different ways and areas, even when I left something in the class you can still found it for me

Alan has been such an amazingly inspiring teacher, As well as the language input each week, he has taught us about the culture of the deaf community and enriched our understanding of how the language works and its importance in education. He pitches the lessons at exactly the right level to make us feel streched but not overwhelmed. I am so glad a studied BSL this year with him and look forward to the weekly classes.

Caroline is so nice, helpful and dedicated! The way she organizes and administers SWAP course is really efficient and very considerate into assuring the best possible academical experience for the students. I aspire to be like her and wish I could take her with me throughout my life at the same time.

Caroline wants us all to better ourselves and it shows! Fantastic person

You have pushed me to be better and drive me to get the job and career I want.

I am on my pre HNC and she has just been fantastic. I am a very anxious person and I couldn't feel more comfortable in her class. So helpful and deserves to be recognised. Big thank you to Amanda

Amazing teacher

They have delivered excellent engaging lectures. Kept the whole class on track and given me a huge amount of support throughout the whole year.

Callum has been the best lecturer - he has so much experience which really enriches our curriculum and gives us more background on what we’re learning which actually helps us to understand better and get different ideas. He is approachable, friendly (I have never seen him in a bad mood all year!) and supports us to achieve our potential. Thank you Callum

This lecture has made sure that the 2 years I have spent in college have been enjoyable and also made sure that I always was able to ask for help when I needed it and also made my college experience amazing.😊

James is always explaining things very well and in different ways if people don't understand.

This man is amazing. He has a lot of teaching method, including comedy skills. Nothing non interesting exists

He is a very helpful, supportive and he teaches very clearly with lots of relevant information. He is, overall, a fantastic lecturer.

As a new student at Edinburgh College this year, I had Soleye as my lecturer for Human Biology, as part of the access to nursing course. Human Biology can be a difficult subject to understand, but Soleye went above and beyond time and time again for us, giving up his own lunch breaks to provide us with extra classes and constantly helping us with revision so we had the best possible chance to pass the class. Soleye is kind, funny and a genuinely fantastic lecturer. I really believe that it’s down to him that I’ve managed to pass the units so far and get one step closer to my end goal! Thank you Soleye.

You have been so supportive throughout this year, you have helped myself gain this extra unit for HNC Childcare and a great Curriculum Team Manager

I would like to say a massive thank you to Duncan from everyone at the Foundation Apprenticeship for his outstanding work with each and every one of his students. We wouldn’t be where we were if it wasn’t for him. No matter what he manages to put a smile on our faces whenever he walks into a room. Thank you for everything you have ever done for us Duncan! We appreciate everything you’ve done for us all.

She helped me when I struggled throughout my course and gave me good words of encouragement. She helped me realise that if I put my mind to it, I can do it, I found it inspirational, and I feel like I couldn't have done it without her support

Thanks for being a great lecturer and debuting your dog Leonard on our online classes :)

Thank you for making learning enjoyable, thanks for making sure we’re always ok :)

While studying the Early learning and Childcare course, Kerry truly made my time there unforgettable. I most comfortable with her as my lecturer than any other. She engaged and included me in every lesson and made me want to continue attending the lessons. She is an extremely kind and caring person.

I Want To Thank Linda For All The Help She’s Gave Me In Class As She’s Very Kind And Supportive She’s Always Willing To Help You With Anything Big Or Small

nicest and calmest lecturer❤️
live laugh love linda xoxo

A very kind, helpful teacher. Maxine is wonderful and I think she really suit the department she is in.

I would like to take this opportunity to say thanks so much for Nicki, she has been working so hard and supporting everyone equally. She is a wonderful lecturer.
Thanks
Soma

U have been an amazing lecturer, one of the best I have come across,thank u for always making me believe in myself, my abilities. It has really helped me in achieving success. Thank you!

For teaching me about oral health in understandable way. About repeating things, stand up and demonstrate things, it helps a lot. Thank You very much

she believes in us, supports us, despite the fact that classes with her are very demanding, she always knows how to relax the atmosphere with cheerful stories, she shares her experience, full of empathy and understanding, I look forward to classes with her with a smile on my face every week

She is one of the best teachers I have ever had. Her contagious enthusiasm has completely changed my perspective on oral health. She always goes the extra mile to ensure we understand, making every class engaging and fun. I'm genuinely grateful for everything I have learned from her.

Fiona is very well educated and knowledgeable around healthcare and social services area.

She has pushed me to be the best student throughout my work.

I just wanted to say thank you to her 😊

fiona helped me so much through my time at college and made it extremely enjoyable even though i struggle in an academic setting.

Katie has been so so supportive of me and my journey through the pharmacy course even when I doubted myself!

I wanted to say a heartfelt thank you to Katie for everything this term. Her teaching has truly made a difference—not just in helping me understand the subject, but in keeping me motivated when things got tough. There were times when I found the course challenging, but Katie's teaching style, energy, and the way she explains things with such clarity and kindness made it feel manageable.

Honestly, Katie has been like a ray of sunshine on my most rubbish days. Speaking with her always lifts my mood and reminds me why I wanted to learn in the first place. I’m incredibly grateful for all the effort and care she puts into each class—it hasn’t gone unnoticed by me or by others.

Thank you again, Katie, for being such a brilliant lecturer.

Kelli’s lectures are very well planned, productive and informative. She is always happy to provide clarifications, guidance and feedback. Kelli is also a lovely person and 100% approachable! I learned a lot in her classes, and feel like I could apply these skills at university and in my future career in HealthCare/Health Science.

Lauren has been a massive support to me and helped me with absolutely everything!

Linda is a fantastic lecturer. She puts everyone at ease with her cheery disposition and makes it easy to learn. The whole class has had nothing but positive praise for her and she will remain our favourite of all this years classes. Thank you Linda, for just being an amazing human being and making learning so fun and positive. It is people like you who impact your students the most.

You always helped me when I didn't understand a certain area of the course, but most of all, you always gave me a smile and brightened my day. So thank you.

She is the most understanding, lovely, person centred, friendly and approachable lecturer. She listens without judging, she supports without hesitation and is always happy no matter what subject she teaches and no offence she has some horrid subjects to teach but she always ensures her students are aware in advance what is coming and she is there to support anyone in need. I was misunderstood from a lot of the lectures when I started except Muriel, she stood by me and encouraged me when others told me there doubts. She wrote my lecture UCAS statement which I have no doubts aided me in receiving 5 full offers from the 5 universities I had choose. She’s honestly one of the people who are just a diamond in a broken down run world. The world needs more Muriel’s to spread the positivity that she ejects with ease. Thank you for being there and supporting me and helping me to continue my dream to be a social worker. She is honestly one of kind! Thanks, Dionne

Rebecca has been teaching our year 1 HNC Counselling for the past year. With every lesson she encourages active and open discussion, sharing of opinions, interactive group and case work. Her lecturing style is engaging and patient, her lessons are varied, and she marks all of our assignments thoroughly, with encouraging feedback. I believe the entire class feels understood and encouraged when being taught by Rebecca and she would be an excellent nomination for this award.

Very kind and soft spoken. Makes you feel at ease even before a closed book

Ashling has been an amazing lecturer throughout all the things she had to deal with putting on so many shows for us all, she was such a trooper and even when sick she powered through. She made and continues to make us feel welcomed and safe in and out of the rehearsal room.

Her commitment to any projects she undertakes and engaging with and appreciating each and every pupil

Doing such an amazing job directing Afterlife and being a huge support and joy for us all.

You have never not supported me and given me feedback on my work that is valuable. You're passionate about my success and improvement and it doesn't go unnoticed.

Thank you, Macki,e for being one of the main driving forces for me in my HND1 year and then always being a laugh after when going onto HND2 and BA (hons) thank you thank you thank you.

Excellent teacher and passionate communicator.

He’s been a big help this year for me. my two years so far and he has really been the lecturer to get me through it and took a chance bring me back this year.

You have been a very good Lecturer who has taught well and looks after his students very well. We are all going to miss him over the Holidays

Dom's teaching skills are possibly the best I've ever experienced. Even for me as a slow learner I've picked up so many more skills this year thanks to Dom. This may sound strange but as someone with OCD there is something very clean and tidy about how Dom goes around his teaching, from his in class theory work, practical work and online video tutorials.

As I'm currently studying the HNC Television and Film course, they've recently just added the BA Film, a 1 year top up after HND. If Dom wasn't teaching on it I'm unsure if i would of stayed on. I heard from another lecturer he maybe wasn't going to be but now hearing he is I will happily stay at college instead of university - there's a 3rd year up option at Napier after HND.

He's the best - fun, light-hearted, relaxed

Julie is absolutely lovely. She is so nice and every class of hers is so interesting. Julie is also so fun to talk to as well, i love being in her class and being able to talk to her about anything, such an amazing woman

Such an amazing lecturer !! So helpful and such a kind person
10/10 lecturer.
Always wants to try understand the student and makes college life easier !!

Niall's taught me for two years now, and has always been the highlight of the course, even through extremely tough moments. He gives the best criticism and feedback I've ever recieved. He's supportive, experienced and possibly the best lecturer at Edinburgh College!

Niall has helped me and my class with so many difficult topics making them easy to understand. And takes time sometimes even out of college to help others.

For the whole 3 years I’ve been at Sighthill, Rocio always went above and beyond to accommodate my needs and was a friendly face I could go to with anything.
She always made sure we understood what we were doing and made the tasks enjoyable so it didn’t feel like “lessons”.
Thank you for being so amazing at your job Rocio xox

Dear Dale,

I want to say thank you because you have helped me so much during my time at college. You always explained things clearly and made the lessons easier to understand.

You were kind, patient, and always ready to support me when I had questions or problems. Because of you, I feel more confident and better prepared for the future.

Thank you for believing in me and for being a great teacher.

With thanks and respect,
Natalia

This is the kind of person who cares about each student and strives for progress in learning English. And I really feel like I have improved my English a lot.

You were very patient with us and your explanations were very clear, I have aprooved my English and I wish to continue with you at next level.

You are the best teacher I’ve ever seen! Thank you for your support, motivation and inspiration to learn !

It is with great love and pride that I nominate Mark Hamilton, who was not just my ESOL teacher during the academic year 2024 to 2025 but a ray of light throughout my year.
Before I continue, I want to say that I truly appreciate and love all of my teachers. I am deeply thankful to every one of them for their efforts, kindness, and support throughout the year. Choosing Mark was not easy, because every teacher gave me something valuable. But I chose Mark because, in addition to being an excellent ESOL teacher, I believe he has the qualities of a brilliant lecturer someone whose presence could inspire across the college, far beyond the classroom.
Mark is not only a knowledgeable and intelligent teacher. He is deeply human in the way he treats his students, generous in his giving, and sincere in his desire to make a real difference in our lives. In every class, I felt I was sitting in front of someone rare, someone who teaches with both his mind and his heart. He planted in us both passion and knowledge, not with pressure, but with joy and wonder.
His teaching methods are exceptionally clever. He introduced us to ideas that made the language flow into us like water. For example, he showed us how to use the read aloud function in Microsoft Word while writing and correcting ourselves, or to visualise words before writing them. These are techniques I never imagined would make me fall in love with language learning the way I did.
What made me love his classes even more was that he did not just teach grammar or vocabulary. He opened doors to a wider world. He would casually mention the names of authors, philosophers, or even inspiring athletes, gently guiding us to explore beyond the classroom. I would quietly write down their names, and later find myself diving into their incredible worlds of art and thought. All of this was sparked by a simple comment from a teacher who knew how to open windows inside us.
Mark does not just teach. He awakens curiosity and revives the mind. He believes that the best way to learn a language is by activating thought, and he brought this belief into every lesson. One day, I mentioned in class that reading is one of the best ways to learn a language. He warmly supported the idea and added beautiful quotes from famous thinkers. That moment stayed with me.
Beyond all this, Mark is a humble teacher who knows how to give strength through silence, and how to gently step in when someone needs support. During a stressful time with exams approaching and tensions within the group, he shared breathing techniques that were simple but powerful. They helped me personally release a deep heaviness I had been carrying.
That experience led me to write him a message of gratitude. I told him that what he shared was not just a breathing exercise. It was a moment of life. I felt the oxygen reaching every part of my body, as if life was returning after long exhaustion.

Mark, you were not just a teacher. You were a quiet friend, a calm healer, and an unforgettable inspiration.

Thank you for being there. Thank you for loving teaching enough to make us love learning.

Zahia el Yahyaoui Mbarek.

I would like to say a big thank you to our amazing teacher, Stuart.

Stuart has been incredibly supportive throughout our time on the ESOL National 5 course.
He always explains everything clearly and patiently, and makes learning English feel much easier and more enjoyable.

In our class, we come from many different parts of the world — Latin America, Africa, Ukraine, Poland, and Hong Kong. Even though we have different backgrounds and cultures, Stuart always makes everyone feel welcome and included. That means so much to us.

We also love Stuart's great sense of humour. His jokes and funny stories help us feel relaxed and make the lessons fun, even when we are preparing for exams.

Thanks to his support and positive attitude, we feel more confident and ready for our National 5 exam in May. Stuart has helped us believe in ourselves, and we are truly grateful for that.

On behalf of the whole class, thank you, Stuart, for being such a kind, patient, and inspiring teacher. We really appreciate everything he does.

You helped me a lot to improve my English and you were there always when we need the help and I will not forget your kindness and politeness. I was lucky to be one of your students.
Thank you very much
Awad Hassan

She is a professional. She knows how to combine human and professional qualities. Thank you very much!t

This academic year, our class felt like a miniature version of the world, a space where students from various cultures, languages, and deeply personal experiences came together. Many carried with them the weight of war, displacement, or long interruptions in education. The atmosphere was a mixture of hope and challenge, a balance between the desire to learn and the fear of failure, between heavy silences and visible effort.
Within this environment, Ms. Suzanna Hurst played a clear role in leading the class academically and bore, in her own way, a daily pressure that was anything but easy. Managing such a diverse group, with the emotional tensions it carried, was no simple task. Yet, she managed to maintain the flow of teaching and even dedicated time outside of lessons to provide academic support, something that made a practical difference for many students.
The emotional burden in the classroom was not hidden. It was present in faces, in behaviors, and in long silences. And Suzanna was one of the people who faced that reality day after day. It may not have always been visible, but continuing to show up and give effort in such a tense environment is something that deserves to be acknowledged.
This nomination is not based on personal relationships, but on a broader view of the year as a whole, the context in which she taught, and the effort she invested to ensure the class stayed steady, even as some students quietly struggled.
For these reasons, I nominate Ms. Suzanna Hurst for the Big Student Thank You 2025, in recognition of her academic role during an extraordinary year, and in appreciation of the time and energy she gave in circumstances that were far from easy for any educator.

Zahia el Yahyaoui Mbarek

Clara excels at her job - she is empathetic, caring, considerate, pro-active, organised and truly dedicated to improving the student experience here at Edinburgh College. I don't believe she has an easy job - she works with numerous students per year, many of whom struggle with unique and difficult situations and yet she has never once let me down. She handles difficult situations with grace and great diplomacy. She is a credit to the institution!

Clara is very kind and understanding to everyone and she has helped Alot of us throughout our time of having her, she deserves a little recognition

Gill has been supportive helpful she has so much compassion and the time she has spent ensuring my time and others in the class are coping with classes and there own wellbeing has been absolutely amazing through my time on the swap access to nursing course

Gillians support, kindness and encouragement which has been needed after a difficult year has helped me get through this year at college. She's shown compassion and understanding and genuinely cares about her students. At times i felt like giving up but gillians encouraging words and understanding has helped me through my course massively.

Gill goes out of her way to make sure she can help me with any problems that may arise

She has helped so many pupils this year, supporting them singlehandedly, and overrall is so lovely to just be around.

Thank you for helping and supporting me in different ways and areas

It took a good six months but Mark has been the first person in ten years that has been able to get me trust him enough to open up and share my struggles ect. The weight that has been lifted has truly changed me as a person for the better, I’ll never forget him and I’ll be forever grateful.

Mark is always there to help. He makes sure to provide with all helpful information and support students. This makes a huge impact.

He was always there to support us, through the ups and downs. He is very quick at responding to questions which put the students mind to ease quicker as it is a very stressful environment. He always makes time for everyone, no matter the problem he is always there to help, support, encourage and give you all the advice needed. He knows all the answers and is an all round exceptional tutor. Wouldn’t have made it through the course without him.

Stewart has continuously supported me throughout my childcare course. I have really enjoyed having him as my LDT and glad I've had the support needed. From Charlotte

Great teacher easy to have a laugh with while learning.

His method of teaching was engaging

I want to say thank you because Jorge, through his actions and encouragement, helped me believe in my own skills and potential. His positive attitude, patience, and genuine support made a real difference in my confidence and learning journey. He always took the time to explain complex topics clearly and never made me feel afraid to ask questions. Thanks to him, I feel much more motivated and capable of reaching my goals.

Liam is an incredibly positive and understanding lecturer. Their friendly and approachable attitude creates a welcoming learning environment for everyone. The Moodle page is neatly organised, making it easy to find resources and stay on track with the course. Overall, a genuinely supportive and effective educator.

This was the best and most put together unit I took all year. He was extremely friendly and guided the students to exactly what they needed. He took specific actions to not give any answers, nor have harsh requirements, but instead helped the whole class troubleshoot and determine the right course of action to develop our problem solving skills. Was a pleasure to have him as a lecturer.

The unit in question was Networking Technology and Computer Networking Concepts, practice, and introduction to security. He did the unit in a backwards format, allowing us near unlimited access to the physical networking devices, so that we could input the commands as we learn them to keep honing our skills with the Cisco command line.

Thank you for your guidance, patience, and dedication. Your support has made a significant difference in my learning journey, and I truly appreciate everything you've done.

Has definitely inspired the class, including myself. He is very passionate over the subject and it translates. He also plays guitar, so he wins either way.

His teaching is very engaging, he’s very supportive and approachable which is very appreciated. You can also tell he actually cares about his students and their success.

Rik is so far, one of the very best teachers I've had in my academic life - very easy to approach, flexible, understanding and of course very knowledgeable too. Always willing and available to help and support with anything no matter how silly the questions might be. Also goes the extra mile to find additional information and resources required to help with our studies both individually and collectively. Plus Rik has a good sense of humour too - something that is very useful for those times when you think you're loosing it as per all the new things you're learning and trying to 'upload' to your already overloaded brain especially as a mature student. Wouldn't trade Rik for another teacher for this course though and of course any other course he takes, thanks

Thank you for your brilliant lecturers, outstanding support, and making data so much fun!

he has helped me get into my course for after the summer but also for making me feel proud of myself as whole.

and so that is why I am voting him

Jasmine supported me through a difficult time and helped me get where I needed to be.

Getting the class through the year with her support and empathy

Junes classes are always interactive and i feel like i learn a lot. she has made the space very inclusive and accepting. she has pushed me to achieve my goals and supported my thoughts my college journey

Lynn has been a great lecturer teaching maths to someone who has trouble remembering anything....I'm grateful for Lynn that I've had the opportunity to be in her class and learning lots of new things in regards to computers she has a wealth of knowledge about....she is also very warm & welcoming when anyone enters her class

The reason i want to say thank you to Martin is because she is more then just a teacher, she treats students like a friend. Since i had her for employment, it's always been my favourite class of the week, never felt bored while she teaches. She explains with a big heart and respect. Thank you a lot to her. Best lecturer ever.

Some people don’t just pass through our lives they leave a mark on the heart that never fades. Ms. Patrycja Modunkwu is one of those rare souls.

From the very first moment I met her at college, I knew I was in the presence of someone extraordinary. She is not just a learning support advisor; she is an open heart, a deeply attentive listener, and a soul that radiates calm and reassurance. Her warmth, kindness, and deep understanding make it feel like she was born to be a source of support for those in need.

Every student in our department who met her left feeling stronger, more hopeful, and more capable of moving forward. She is always present, listening with her whole being, responding promptly, and following up with genuine care. When I faced difficulties, she didn’t just listen; she took action, contacted the necessary departments, and offered practical and thoughtful solutions, as if my problem had become her own.

Her smile alone could ease the heaviest of hearts, and her words planted seeds of hope that many of us could not find elsewhere. That is why she is deeply loved and appreciated by every student who has been lucky enough to meet her.

On behalf of myself and every student who crossed her path this year, I say from the bottom of my heart:
You deserve every award, every recognition, and every word of thanks. We proudly nominate you for the 2025 award.
Because people like you are rare, and your presence has made this college a kinder, more compassionate place.

Zahia el Yahyaoui Mbarek