VC Awards 2025
News
Celebrating the BSU community at the Vice-Chancellor’s Awards 2025
Friday, 16 May, 2025It’s that time of year again, when members of the BSU community come together at the University's beautiful Newton Park campus for the annual Vice-Chancellor’s Awards ceremony.
Run in partnership with the Students' Union, the Vice-Chancellor’s Awards celebrate students, staff, alumni and partners that have made an outstanding contribution to the University community. Nominations began in the new year, with everyone at BSU able to get involved.
Taking to the stage for her Vice-Chancellor Awards debut, BSU Vice-Chancellor Professor Georgina Andrews joined Students' Union President Jas Raymond-Barker to welcome everyone to the ceremony.
Georgina wished best of luck to the finalists, reflecting on how “heartwarming [it was to read] the thoughtful nominations submitted by colleagues and our students.” And then, the presentation of awards began. Georgina and Jas began opening the golden envelopes, sharing the wonderful achievements of the winners, and presenting them with their awards.
Creating this year’s awards
To mark the occasion, a BSU student was commissioned to design and create the awards up for grabs.
This year’s prize was a very special limited-edition print, designed and produced by Final Year BA Fine Art student, Lily Maddocks. The screen print captures one of the largest stones from Stanton Drew Stone Circle, seen from six different angles. The screen print was produced at the Locksbrook Campus, using ink that was hand-ground from charcoal.
Speaking about the honour of creating this year’s awards, Lily said:
“I’m really grateful to be offered it. I never really expected I’d be chosen to do something like this.”
Celebrating student successes
First up was the outstanding achievements of BSU students. From 'Academic Achievement’ and 'Community champion of the year' to group and student of the year, the marquee erupted in applause to praise the wonderful contributions of the student finalists and winners.
Among the winners, Bath Spa University Volleyball Club took home the 'Student group of the year' award for their incredible team spirit, described as "welcoming, inclusive, and full of energy."
Salma Ammar from the Volleyball Society said:
“Winning this award means the world to us. It’s a reflection of the passion, commitment, and teamwork we’ve poured into this season. More than just a sport, Volleyball has become a safe space for our members—a place where we can grow, support one another, and just be ourselves. We’re so grateful to BSU for giving us the space to build this amazing community, and this recognition motivates us to keep pushing even further.”
Congratulating BSU staff
The University staff also had their time in the spotlight with Colleague, Manager, Supervisor and Lecturer of the year, as well as 'Outstanding support' and the 'University Executive Board Recognition Award'.
‘Colleague of the Year’ is awarded to a member of staff who has enhanced a culture of respect, engagement and integrity through their enjoyment of work and their promotion of friendliness and collegiality. This year it was a joint award, going to Matt Francis from Communications and Brand Development, and Karl Shearer from IT Services.
Karl was praised for “astonishing [...] efforts” within the field, “hearing with patience and empathy the requirements of our userbase, respecting their needs and working to provide what we can.”
Matt was nominated having proved himself “an integral part of the BSU community, always coming to work with a smile and positive attitude.” Reflecting on the joint award, Matt said:
“Winning colleague of the year is incredibly humbling. BSU has always felt like home from when I first looked around as a pretty lost 18-year-old. Now I work with some amazingly talented people, many of whom I consider friends, and this award is dedicated to every one of them for making this the best job you could wish to have.”
Cheering on BSU alumni and partners
The BSU community wouldn’t be what it is today without the University’s wide network of alumni and partners.
Alum Lauren Stone headed to the stage to collect the ‘Back to Bath Spa Alumni Award’. Having collected the award, Lauren said:
“I’m deeply honoured to receive this award and to be described as a role model to current students. My time at Bath Spa University helped to shape who am I today and provided me with so many invaluable opportunities, so it is really important to me that I continue my relationship with BSU and do all I can to help current students on their Bath Spa journey.”
Fairfield House took home ‘External Partner of the Year’. Ras Benji, Operations Manager, Fairfield House Bath CIC, said:
“Everyone at Fairfield is so happy to receive this award from Bath Spa University. We have worked with BSU for twenty years this year and recently it was Bath Spa University who stepped up to support Fairfield House at a critical time of our development, working to safeguard the vibrant legacy of Emperor Haile Selassie I in the City of Bath and beyond.”
Drawing the ceremony to a close
As the evening of celebrations came to an end, Georgina and Jas rounded up the ceremony with a big thank you to “all the behind the scenes teams [...] which have worked so hard to put on what has been a wonderful evening.” Giving thanks to Campus Life, Conferencing and Events, Catering, Communications and Brand Development, the VC Awards Team, and the technical support team, among many more.
Wishing a huge congratulations to the 2025 Vice-Chancellor’s Awards winners.
Find out more about the Vice-Chancellor’s Awards.