From education to employment

Bristol students make record win at Undergraduate of the Year Awards

The tenth anniversary of the prestigious awards received over 4,000 applicants, who underwent a rigorous selection process including online tests, assessment centres and interviews.

Prizes at stake were provided by the sponsoring employers [including; P&G, E.ON, and Enterprise Rent-A-Car] and include paid internships and graduate jobs to help kickstart the students’ careers.

Stuart Johnson, Director of the Careers Service said: “Our six finalists are great ambassadors for the University. Given the number of applicants and the rigour of the selection process, reaching the finals is a fantastic achievement in itself, but to have three winners from these six finalists is astonishing!”

Winners:

Daisy Vanags – Future CFO of the Year

Daisy is in her final year of study for an International Business Management degree and was selected as a winner due to her ambition, forward thinking and commercially mindedness – demonstrated through a broad range of work placements including a summer internship for a technology start-up specialising in corporate social responsibility and in the office of the shadow secretary of state for health. She has also pursued her interest in technology by learning to code, has worked as a fundraiser for Guide Dogs and was selected as a peer mentor and university course ambassador. Her win will take her on an exclusive visit to one of ACCA’s international markets.

Samir Badaro – Undergraduate of the Year for Impactful Social Action

Samir is in his second year of study for a Criminology degree and has won a paid summer internship on TeachFirst’s Taster Programme. The accolade recognises him for his contributions – volunteering since the early age of six. His passion and desire to make constructive change within his community stemmed from his family’s own background and journey in life, starting as refugees. Ever since, Samir has done a range of work, from volunteering in orphanages and old people’s homes, to starting his own initiative where he trained over 300 refugees and Jordanian locals on the basics of sports and athletics. His project, Children of Jordan, was initiated in 2014 and still thrives today.

Sina Sadrzadeh – One to Watch Undergraduate of the Year

Currently in his final year of study for an Economics and Management degree. Sina has been awarded a ten-week paid internship and overseas trip with IQ-EQ for his entrepreneurship and resourcefulness. He has started his own business called Peppercorn, which redistributes surplus food from businesses to local non-profits. Peppercorn has redistributed over 100kg of food to people in need instead of landfills. He has won over £10,000 in grant funding for his project and business and personal awards including O2, the University of Bristol and TSB. Sina is also a mentor for student start-ups and enjoys his role as the vice president of the University Entrepreneur Society. He has also undertaken internships at PepsiCo while also being a freelance football journalist, appearing on podcasts and having articles published in magazines and online.

Finalists:

  • Jonah McPartlin, Computer Science – Computer Science, IT and Physics Undergraduate of the Year
  • Alexandros Varianos, Economics – Male Undergraduate of the Year
  • Harriet Pinder, Politics and International Relations – Management Undergraduate of the Year

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