The Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences Awards students’ success

The Faculty celebrated the success of its remarkable students, with the Student Awards being presented at Faculty Assembly in November 2024. Launched in October 2020, the Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences student awards recognise outstanding and inspirational students within the Black, Asian and Minority Ethnic student community who have either gained outstandingly high marks in their modules, or who have made exceptional steps towards achieving their study goals. The Faculty is fortunate to have the support of inspirational alumni and the families of outstanding academics for these Awards. The scope of the Awards was expanded in 2023 to recognise outstanding and inspirational students across the wider student cohort with the launch of the Executive Dean Awards. Each Award recipient is enrolled on a Roll of Honour, and receives an engraved trophy, certificate, and monetary prize.

The Sir Lenny Henry Award for Outstanding Achievement is awarded to a student on a FASS undergraduate module who meets the awarding criteria and demonstrates that they have made excellent progress in their OU study towards achieving their study goals. The Joan Armatrading, The Professor Susheila Nasta and The Professor Marcia Worrell Awards for Outstanding Performance are presented to a student on a FASS undergraduate module who meets the awarding criteria and attains the highest overall score in their module presentation.

Congratulations go to the following recipients of the Awards, presented in November 2024 by Executive Dean Professor Adrienne Scullion:

• Shantae Lynch received The Sir Lenny Henry Award for Outstanding Achievement on a 2023J FASS module (A363)
• Jacquline Lee received The Joan Armatrading Award for Outstanding Performance on a 2023J Level 2 or Level 3 module (A276)
• Sandra Ajanaku received The Professor Susheila Nasta Award for Outstanding Performance on a 2023J Level 1 module (DD102)
• Ghady Ayan received The Professor Marcia Worrell Award for Outstanding Performance on a 2024B Level 1 module (DD102).

TheExecutive Dean Awards for Outstanding Achievement and for Best Performance are awarded to undergraduate students within each School of the Faculty, and to the best performing postgraduate student in the Faculty.

Congratulations to the recipients of the awards for 2023J and 2024B modules:

For Outstanding Achievement:

• Janine Prentice, School of Arts & Humanities (A276)
• Rebecca Foran-Coutts, School of Psychology & Counselling (D120)
• Natalie Spriggs, School of Social Sciences & Global Studies (DD311).

For Best Performance:

• Patricia, School of Arts & Humanities (A276)
• Rebecca, School of Psychology & Counselling (DE200)
• Trevor Shackleton, School of Social Sciences & Global Studies (DD226)

For Best Performance (Postgraduate)

• Justin Abbott received the Best Performance for a Postgraduate Module (22I-23E) Award (A853 22J)

Thanks go to all the Associate Lecturers and other staff involved with the teaching and support of our students for their dedication and hard work. The Faculty’s Student EDI Team is consulting on further ways to recognise the achievement of students.

Image info: (right to left) Rebecca Foran-Coutts (Rebecca), Natalie Spriggs, Shantae Lynch