MONITOR
CHARITY
The WCIT Charity Outstanding Information Technology Student Awards 2016
F ollowing the success of the inaugural WCIT Outstanding Information Technology Student Awards in 2015, the WCIT Charity was very pleased to support the scheme again for 2016. The awards were created to recognise outstanding undergraduate and postgraduate IT students.
Criteria for the award included academic excellence, overcoming adversity, entrepreneurial skills and contribution to charity or community. Six universities nominated their chosen candidate and provided a written citation in their support: this year, they were Oxford, Cambridge, Surrey, City, Imperial and the Open University.
The judging panel included the Master, Alderman Sir David Wootton, the Master Educator, our own Past Master John Leighfield CBE, the Chair of the WCIT Charity, Mrs Jo Connell OBE DL, the Junior Warden Dr Stefan Fafinski and Alderman and Sheriff Charles Bowman.
From left: Lachlan Munro, Surrey University; Will Bell, Oxford University; Laurynas Karazija, Cambridge University; Junior Warden, Stefan Fafinski; Deputy Master, Nicholas Birtles; Sherry Coutu CBE; the Master Alderman Sir David Wootton; Master Educator, John Leighfield CBE; Clerk, Mike Jenkins; Assistant Clerk, Lillie Jamieson; Andrew Lambert, City University London; Rory Bennett, Open University; and winner Bryan Liu, Imperial College, London.
“ It is wonderful to see the University IT Awards running for a second year. The quality of the entrants was exceptional – it is inspiring to see”
As we expected from last year, the standards reached by the nominees was very high. Each nominated student won £ 250 towards their continuing studies, together with a place at the February Business Lunch with their sponsoring academic. The overall winner received £ 1,000.
This year’ s winner was Bryan Liu from Imperial College London, a fourth year student studying towards a MEng in mathematics and computer science. As well as averaging marks of 80 % in each of is first three years, he completed the ILM Level 5 Award in Volunteer Management, raised over £ 2,500 for charity, teamed up with three other students to build a WebApp to provide real-time updates and delay prediction for London Underground by analysing tube arrival and departure data.
In addition, he dedicates time to welcome new students with a culturally Chinese background to the university, as well as raising awareness on public affairs and promoting opportunities amongst the Chinese student community. Dr Stefan Fafinski, Junior Warden and instigator of the Awards said“ It is wonderful to see the University IT Awards running for a second year. The quality of the entrants was exceptional – it is inspiring to see students combining outstanding academic performance with entrepreneurial and charitable efforts. I’ m looking forward to seeing what next year’ s students have in store.”
The winning students were presented with their awards by our Master and the Master Educator at the February 2016 WCIT Business Lunch at Apothecaries’ Hall.
The winner of the overall WCIT Outstanding Information Technology Award, Bryan Liu( middle) from Imperial College, London
Contributed by WCIT Junior Warden Dr Stefan Fafinski
Right: The wonderful Apothecaries’ Hall, our setting for the 91st WCIT Business Lunch
© Photography by Gerald Sharp Photography
www. sharpphoto. co. uk
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