July
NUS Student of the Year
15 July 13
Queen’s University Belfast, medical student Aidan Bannon has beat thousands of students across the UK to be crowned the ‘Endsleigh Insurance Student of the Year’ Award in the 2013 National Union of Students (NUS) Awards held in a prestigious ceremony in Manchester Students’ Union last week. Currently in their sixth year, the awards are designed to recognise inspirational students who make positive contributions towards society.
Standing out from the crowd at every stage of the competition, Aidan’s enthusiasm and drive not only make him a worthy winner but the first Queen’s University student to win the esteemed award.
Embodying all of the spirit and values of being a star student, Aidan won over the judging panel with his pro-active, hard-working and positive attitude. Congratulating Aidan on his win, the NUS judges said he demonstrated “exceptional levels in capability and focus on varying needs of students and the local community.”
Aidan on receiving the award said, “I am delighted and honoured to receive this award. I have thoroughly enjoyed this past year and I would like to say a huge thank you to everyone who has supported me. This award represents the dedication and effort that so many students and staff put into all the different campaigns and initiatives run at the University and through the Students’ Union. Queen’s is unique and dynamic and I am proud to be a part of it.”
This year, Aidan founded Queen’s University Red Cross Society which encompasses over 60 dedicated volunteers who fundraise and educate individuals regarding international crises. The Society, which is now one of the most widely recognised and respected in the University, has secured: ‘Best New Society’ and ‘Best Community Contribution’ at the 2012 Queen’s University Students’ Union Awards; the ‘Charitable/Voluntary Club or Society of the Year’ award at Queen’s Students’ Union Volunteering Excellency Awards 2013 and a shortlisting for the Board of Irish College Societies ‘Civic Contribution’ award. Within Queen’s University Red Cross Society, Aidan also designed and developed an award-winning Community Engagement project supporting the personal development of young people from interface areas in Belfast.
As the Queen’s Students’ Union Enterprise and Development Intern for 2012/13, Aidan has been the peer leader for the newly launched Volunteer Academy and demonstrated his entrepreneurial skills through the design and delivery of the programme.
Aidan also spearheaded the ‘Mind Yer Mate’ campaign, an innovative suicide awareness project aimed to support students to better look after their mental health, which concluded in a fundraiser which successfully secured over £8,500 of funding. Aidan also received the ‘Student Volunteer of the Year’ award at the 2013 Queen’s Students’ Union Volunteering Excellency Awards and the ‘Outstanding Contribution to Student Experience’ award at the 2013 Queen’s Students’ Union Awards for his efforts.
Over and above his completion of 500+ hours of volunteering and excelling in his studies, Aidan has: received the 2013 Queen’s University Belfast ‘Student of the Year’ award; been awarded with the ‘Best Idea from the Faculty of Medicine, Health and Life Sciences’ award in the Queen’s Students’ Union ‘What’s the Big Idea 2013’ competition; received the award of ‘Entrepreneurial Student’ at the 2013 Queens’ Students’ Union Awards; received first prize in the NICCY Participation awards for his involvement in the ‘Young People Priorities for Healthcare Report’; been the first student from QUB Medical School to be accepted to the Heidelberg Medical Erasmus programme; and secured a paid research assistantship with a Professor in the Centre of Infection and Immunity in the area of Cystic Fibrosis.
Niall McShane, President of Queen’s Students’ Union, said: “Aidan is a true example of an exceptional student. He is a natural student leader, with a passion for community youth work and increasing the opportunities available for young people and students. His hard work and commitment has touched the lives of so many people of all ages, abilities and across all communities, and his legacy will continue for years to come.”