“This was a very challenging and difficult year for everyone involved in education, but we worked together to do what we could to ensure that all our students had every opportunity to succeed.”
The annual staff awards are usually one of the highlights of the College year but like so many other events, the awards ceremony was held virtually. Award recipients were contacted individually, and their names were announced simultaneously on the College website and across its social media channels.
This year, to reflect the extenuating circumstances of working through a pandemic, in addition to the usual individual and team awards, three special Covid-19 Hero awards were presented.
The category award winners were:
Curriculum Team of the Year: Inclusive Learning Team, Runner Up: Sports Team Coleraine;
Work Based Learning Lecturer of the Year: Alan Stewart, Runner Up: Ray Scott;
Further Education (FE) Lecturer of the Year: Rhonda Brady, Runner Up: David Dickey;
Higher Education (HE) Lecturer of the Year: Deirdre McNicholl, Runner Up: Ian Craig;
Essential Skills Lecturer of the Year: Niamh McAllister, Runner Up: Hilary Caithness;
Bright Star – Digital Champion of the Year: Cheryl McNeil, Runner Up: Victoria Smyth & Penelope Ross;
Team Player of the Year: Lisa Burns;
Peer Support of the Year: Nicola Olphert, Runner Up: Bronagh McNabb;
Customer Service Team Member of the Year: Shannon Boyce;
Effective Use of Technology: Allison Cartwright;
Support Team Member of the Year: Teresa McMullan;
Support Team of the Year: IT Team.
The ‘Covid Heroes’ awards were presented to Health and Social Care lecturers, Kate Pegram (Coleraine) and Jacqui McAllister (Newtownabbey) and to the Advanced Technologies team at Farm Lodge campus.
During the first lockdown in May 2020, Kate encouraged her colleagues to participate in an ‘Around the Campuses Challenge’ as part of the College’s Covid-19 Volunteering Day initiative. As a result, dozens of staff got together in virtual teams to walk, cycle or run the equivalent of the 79-mile journey between the College campuses raising over £3,500 for Extern’s Coronavirus Hardship Appeal.
Jacqui led by example by working weekend shifts on the Covid-19 wards in Antrim Area Hospital and donating her payment for the work to a local fundraising appeal. Her 13-hour shifts came at a cost as she had to self-isolate from her family and live in separate accommodation. She said: “We’re all in this together and, by stepping up myself, I hope I’m modelling best practice to my students.”
Staff from the College’s Advanced Technologies Department responded to urgent calls for PPE for healthcare workers at the start of the pandemic. By pooling the College’s 3D printing resources they produced 700 face shields which were distributed to nursing homes, dental practices, GP surgeries and other essential services in the College’s catchment area.
Commending all the winners and nominees, Professor Scott said staff had shown tremendous resilience and commitment in very challenging circumstances to ensure that students at the College stayed on track and achieved success, despite the pandemic.
“The volume of nominations received this year is testament to the outstanding efforts and achievements of so many colleagues and to the great sense of camaraderie and community that exists within our College.
“I’m delighted we have such an array of worthy winners. They have led by example with their leadership and ability to innovate and are an inspiration to us all.”
The full list of winners can be viewed here: Staff Award Winners 2020 | NRC Northern Regional College.