University staff show their STAR status at this year’s Summer Graduation Ceremonies

It wasn’t only the students’ achievements that we have been celebrating this week; four University staff members have been rewarded for their exceptional teaching methods and support after receiving a Student Teaching and Representation (STAR) Award at this year’s Summer Graduation Ceremonies.

The Support Staff of the Year was presented to Gemma Smith, Student Mental Health Advisor, Student Services, on Tuesday morning, Kyffin Jones, Senior Lecturer in Special Needs Education, received the Most Innovative Teaching Award on Wednesday, with Simon Sneddon, Senior Lecturer in Law receiving his award for Outstanding Lecturer of the Year on Thursday and Claire Allen, Lecturer in English and Creative Writing, for her Contribution to Pastoral Support on Friday.

Previously known as the Student Led Teaching Awards, the STAR Awards provide Northampton students with the opportunity to celebrate academic and support staff, who have made an outstanding impact on their University experience.

Liam Bligh, the newly elected Students’ Union President, commented: “It gives me great pleasure as the Students’ Union President, on behalf of the student body to warmly congratulate all recipients on receiving their STAR awards this week.

“The STAR Awards were created by the Students’ Union to recognise and celebrate the hard work and dedication of University staff according to the crucial elements of an outstanding student experience that the student body themselves most value. Year on year the number of awards and nominations have grown as students have wanted to ensure their input can be included – this year has been no different seeing the introduction of an award dedicated specifically to the University’s eLearning platform and the most number of nominations ever received.

“Now in its third year, the Students’ Union has recognised the achievements of over 75 members of staff for their contributions in delivering an outstanding experience in teaching, administrative and pastoral support and presented awards to 12 final winners. Their innovative teaching methods, support strategies and practises have been heralded as ‘the best of Northampton’ and shared widely across the organisation such that we might embed these and continue to offer a quality university experience to our students that reflects their ever-changing needs.”