2022 winners

The Black Heritage Undergraduate of the Year Award, partnered by Sky

Samuel Ola

Samuel Ola, Loughborough University, Business Analytics

Samuel is a second-year business analytics student at Loughborough University with a passion for entrepreneurship. During his gap year before university, he started a health technology business, which he led to winning multiple grants, securing a partnership with Portsmouth Hospital, and raising over £50,000 in investment. Outside of business, Samuel loves uplifting students in the Afro-Caribbean community and has served as the President of Loughborough ACS for 2021–22. During his term, he co-founded the Black in Sport Summit, an event gathering together high-profile athletes to inspire students to achieve excellence. Samuel has also completed internships at the likes of Google and the Financial Times.

Finalists:

The Built Environment Undergraduate of the Year Award, partnered by AECOM

Sonali Patel

Sonali Patel, University of Warwick, Civil Engineering

Sonali is a civil engineering student at the University of Warwick. She has immersed herself into her undergraduate career by taking on roles of responsibility throughout, including being the head of site visits for Warwick Engineering Society and a student ambassador for her university. She also takes part in outreach activities to inspire the next generation of engineers. In her spare time, Sonali enjoys playing netball and mentoring.

Finalists:

The Undergraduate of the Year Award for Excellence Through Adversity, partnered by Rolls-Royce

Artemis Webster

Artemis Webster, Queen Mary University of London, Chemistry

Artemis is a penultimate-year chemistry student at Queen Mary University of London. She is proud to be a care-leaver who now tutors other students from underrepresented backgrounds at the not-for-profit social enterprise, Peppo Tutors. As well as this, Artemis is a Unite Foundation Scholar and runs the social media pages for the scholarship. She hopes to break the stigmas surrounding care-leavers and estranged students at university. Artemis is also a student ambassador, helping to recruit new students in STEM subjects at Queen Mary. In the future she hopes to continue her unique journey, helping others to achieve excellence through adversity.

Finalists:

The Female Undergraduate of the Year Award partnered by Rolls-Royce

Oyindasola Bello

Oyindasola Bello, University of Oxford, Economics and Management

Oyindasola is a first-year economics and management Student at the University of Oxford, where she is on the committee for the university’s leading investment management society, Oxford Alpha Fund. She is also the only student on the committee for 100 Women in Finance, a global organisation through which she seeks to encourage other young women to enter a career in finance. Alongside these commitments, she has secured internships at Goldman Sachs, Citigroup, UBS, EY and now Rolls-Royce. Outside of her degree, she enjoys gymnastics, learning languages (she speaks five so far), a good novel and walks with friends.

Finalists:

The First Generation Undergraduate of the Year Award, partnered by HSBC

Isabelle Brown

Isabelle Brown, University of Exeter, French and Spanish

As a trilingual, sports-loving, determined, and diligent Exeter University modern languages undergraduate, Isabelle loves travelling and exploring new cultures. During her year abroad, she was an assistant English teacher in France for five months and is now studying in Spain. Previously she taught as an ASA qualified swimming instructor, completed work experience as a business analyst at Kimberly-Clark and worked as a retail assistant at Exeter Marketplace. During lockdown she volunteered for university’s digital welcome team and trialled a French conversation platform. She achieved the Exeter Award and completed Grand Challenges, an innovative, multi-disciplinary course combatting issues in the digital world.

Finalists:

The Undergraduate of the Year for Celebrating Neurodiverse Talent, partnered by Rolls-Royce and R2 Factory

Rachel Muir

Rachel Muir, University of Kent, Computer Science

Rachel is in her penultimate year at the University of Kent, studying computer science. She currently sits on committee for TinkerSoc, which is a society for individuals who love to create and tinker. She aims to become president next year with the goal of increasing outreach within underrepresented groups of individuals. During her second and third years of study, she assisted a research firm in building bespoke hardware and software with the aim of providing affordable and accessible treatment for mental health issues around the globe. In her spare time, Rachel enjoys playing guitar, gaming, and tinkering.

Finalists:

The Future CFO of the Year, partnered by CIMA

Emily Gardner

Emily Gardner, Durham University, Economics

Emily is a third-year economics student at Durham University. She is currently on her year abroad at the University of Lausanne in Switzerland, where she studies business and management and is part of the investment society. As a part-time job Emily works as a maths and economics tutor online. She recently took part in Tsinghua University’s global summer school, working with a team from across the world to find technical solutions to reach carbon neutrality. In her spare time she enjoys learning languages and playing sports. She is part of Durham University’s Taekwondo team and is also a member of her college’s finance committee.

Finalists:

The Future Lawyer of the Year, partnered by Clyde & Co

Jack Whittaker

Jack Whittaker, University of Salford, Law

Jack is a final-year law student at the University of Salford, who aims to develop a successful career in commercial law. Jack has gained a range of work experience, including an internship at Monarch Solicitors, completing the Common Purpose Future Leadership Programme, participating in his university’s internal moot competition, and securing a service volunteer position at Support Through Court. Other interests include running, family time and travelling. Jack was lucky enough to travel around India and Southeast Asia in 2019.

Finalists:

The LGBT+ Undergraduate of the Year Award, partnered by Clifford Chance, National Student Pride, Attitude and myGwork

Joel Mordi

Joel Mordi, University of East London, Social Sciences

Joel is in his foundation year at the University of East London studying social science. He calls himself a proud global citizen, father, brother, son and farmer. But he is also a founder of M.I.F Nigeria, Nigeria’s largest charity focused on achieving the United Nations sustainable development goals. Joel is the organiser and face of Nigeria’s first ever LGBT Pride parade/protest. He is a Young Leader advocate for Safe Passage, part of a group of people from refugee and asylum-seeking backgrounds campaigning for change.

Finalists:

The Management Undergraduate of the Year Award, partnered by Enterprise Rent-A-Car

Yasmin Coffey

Yasmin Coffey, University of St Andrews, Management

Yasmin is a management student at the University of St Andrews. She has been recognised for her academic achievements on the Dean’s List and elected as a class representative. Yasmin is a passionate advocate for social mobility, recently being nominated for a social mobility award. Yasmin has also completed internships at J.P. Morgan and Vogue. She is proud to have represented Europe and central Asia as part of With and For Girls, allocating funds to charities tackling girl’s rights globally. She has also been heavily involved with societies in St Andrews, holding committee positions in the 93% Club and in women’s rights groups.

Finalists:

The Young Activist of the Year Award, partnered by Clifford Chance and One Young World

Bana Itani

Bana Itani, SOAS, University of London, Law

Bana Itani is final-year law student completing the senior status LLB at SOAS, University of London. She previously graduated from the American University of Beirut with a degree in political studies and a minor in international law. Bana has completed work placements with research institutes, law firms and NGOs. Most recently, Bana co-founded Be Brave Beirut, a grassroots initiative providing free remote mental health services in Lebanon that began after the devastating explosion in Beirut on August 4, 2020. To date, Be Brave Beirut has helped over 1,000 beneficiaries, delivered more than 6,000 hours of emotional support and garnered more than 4,000 social media followers.

Finalists:

The Software Engineering Undergraduate of the Year, partnered by Skyscanner

Leah Hughes

Leah Hughes, University of Aberdeen, Computing Science

Leah is currently a penultimate-year computer science student at the University of Aberdeen. She’s always looking for opportunities to advocate for women and non-binary people in STEM and has taken part in several events promoting this including this year’s Lovelace Colloquium. At the beginning of 2020 she took part in Digital Skills Partnership’s National Student Software Development Competition and was fortunate enough to be part of the winning team. In her spare time Leah enjoys volunteering with her local Cub Scout pack and getting out to spend time in nature.

Finalists: