2023 winners

Peggy Elechi (Business Management BA, 2021)

Peggy Elechi graduated from Westminster in 2021 and has since pursued a career in recruitment, currently working as a recruitment consultant leading an interim HR and transformation team. Peggy was the star panel speaker at the ‘What Comes Next? Business Management’ event, where she was able to use her recent experience of entering the job market to advise current students on where to start after graduating, how to negotiate your salary, and offer reassurance about starting something new and entering the world of work.

The event was held in November 2022 and had a record number of attendees – 96 students – for the ‘What Comes Next’ series. Peggy was very engaging, passionate and, most importantly, honest and transparent about her experiences as a recent graduate. Peggy was able to offer straightforward and honest advice about entering the job market and offered unique transparency about issues surrounding salaries and the labour market. As well as engaging with the students during the panel and Q&A, Peggy went above and beyond by staying after the event had concluded to speak to the attendees and answer more questions. Of the feedback submitted after the event, an impressive 100% of students agreed or strongly agreed that the panel was informative and useful.

Talking about the event, Peggy said: “It was really refreshing to be transparent and honest with the students, especially regarding salary, as no matter how much we try to avoid the topic, it is very important. I could also see that the students were very receptive to the information and engaged in the discussion. I was also very impressed with the questions they asked – they did not shy away from being inquisitive, which is very inspiring to see.”

Speaking about the award, Peggy said: “I care about my university, so for this award I am truly honoured. Thank you for caring too.”

Karl Donaldson (Psychology BSc, 2019)

Karl Donaldson has worked for over three decades to make a difference in the lives of young people, through his work as a youth practitioner. Karl was part of the ‘What It Takes: To Overcome Imposter Syndrome’ panel in November 2022, where he discussed his experience as a mature student at Westminster and gave excellent advice to attendees on how to start to overcome personal doubt.

Karl has worked to empower young individuals and foster their growth, working with children and young adults from different cultural and socioeconomic backgrounds to assist their development as they embark on their life journeys. Despite his dedication and passion for advocating for young people, Karl has struggled with self-confidence and belief in his abilities throughout his career and during his degree. He was able to share these challenges with the attendees of the ‘What It Takes’ event with charisma and honesty, and to offer advice on how he has worked to change his views about imposter syndrome by embracing his unique qualities and developing a greater sense of belief in his capabilities.

Speaking about the panel, one attendee said: “The speakers did a wonderful job of having a discussion on imposter syndrome and how to overcome the notion of feeling like an outsider.” Karl was able to answer questions after the panel discussion with insight, offering valuable advice and useful resources. Karl received some of the most positive post-event feedback results of this year’s ‘What It Takes’ series.

Ivy Edemafaka (Professional Architecture PG Dip, 2020)

Ivy Edemafaka is an architect who graduated from Westminster with her Architecture Postgraduate Diploma Professional Practice in 2020. She now works delivering practical architecture workshops to young people, as well as going above and beyond to support Westminster students.

Ivy has contributed so much to Westminster across many areas. She is a BA Architecture mentor and Part 3 Champion, which has included guest critiquing BA Architecture student projects to provide feedback and suggestions for students returning from their work experience module. She has joined the Westminster Architecture School’s Employability Advisory Board to support the university in preparing students for entering the architecture industry. Through her volunteering for Westminster, Ivy has provided outstanding support for students preparing to complete their studies and enter the industry.

Ivy has also connected her current work as an Engagement Officer for the Royal Institute of British Architects (RIBA) with Westminster by facilitating the RIBA x University of Westminster Experience Architecture Workshop that helps sixth form students prepare their portfolios for university and apprenticeship applications.

Speaking about the award, Ivy said: “I am delighted to win the Exceptional Support of Student and Recent Graduate Award. I am very proud to be part of the team at the School of Architecture and Cities at the University of Westminster who are paving the way in bridging the gaps between academia and practice for current and future Architecture students.”

It is Ivy’s support of Westminster students across such an extensive field of voluntary contributions that makes her so deserving of this award; she truly does provide exceptional support.

Sam Badcock (Marketing Communications BA, 2020)

Sam Badcock works as a social media and content strategist. Since graduating in 2020, Sam has been an incredibly generous and dedicated volunteer for Westminster going above and beyond to facilitate work experience, participate in events, and host the Westminster Working Cultures (WWC) UK June 2022 group.

During his time at Westminster, Sam tried to take all the opportunities available to him to expand his knowledge and experience – including founding a society, running on campus events with industry professionals and participating in WWC Washington DC. Since he graduated, Sam has done as much as possible to give back to Westminster.

As well as hosting the WWC UK June 2022 group, Sam was a keynote speaker at the December 2022 WWC Annual Reunion event where he gave an outstanding speech that really captivated the audience. Sam was also part of the ‘What It Takes to Enter the Job Market’ panel, where he shared his experience of entering the world of work as a recent graduate and offered excellent advice to students about to do the same. Sam is always happy to support Westminster, even at late notice, and he has been consistently enthusiastic, dedicated and engaging across all his activities.

Sam has also introduced a work experience opportunity for Westminster students with his employer, Havas People, and hosted students for workshops and lectures at the Havas offices in Kings Cross. Sam has gone above and beyond to contribute to Westminster and help students and recent graduates to take their next steps and thrive.

Speaking about the award, Sam said: “Receiving this award is a privilege; I’ve always found outreach to be important, and the connections I made as part of WWC and the alumni who took the time to meet us were invaluable, and shaped my graduate journey – it has been a true honour and a blessing to be able to contribute to current students’ Westminster Experiences, and hopefully have an impact on how they view their graduate journeys!”

Haroon Omar Mahdi (Interactive Media Practice MA, 2018)

Haroon Mahdi is a very experienced mentor and lecturer, with over 20 years of experience delivering personal and professional development strategies to educational institutions. Haroon has been a part of the Career Mentoring programme at Westminster since 2018 and has been part of the Group Mentoring scheme since its inception. Haroon has always gone above and beyond to support his mentees and helping them achieve their academic and professional goals.

Future Ready Mentoring at Westminster provides long-term, short-term and group mentoring opportunities to our students and recent graduates. In taking part, mentees benefit from their mentor’s expertise and insight, allowing them to grow personally and professionally, giving them the confidence they need to prepare themselves for an exciting career in the future.

This year, Haroon has provided one-to-one long-term support through the Career Mentoring Programme. Despite the minimum commitment being five mentoring sessions across the six-month cycle, Haroon and his mentee have had ten mentoring sessions with an additional five scheduled to take place. His mentee has not only had the opportunity to excel in their professional development, but also to grow enormously in self-confidence.

His mentee said: “Haroon is an exceptional mentor whose contributions have had a profound impact on my personal and professional development. His dedication to mentoring me has been superb and brilliant, and I am grateful for the friendship for life he has offered me. From our first communication, Haroon has demonstrated an innate ability to recognise and cultivate talent, and his unwavering belief in my potential has allowed me to realise capabilities I had not previously recognised. The Mentoring team has provided crucial support, and Haroon’s exceptional mentorship has further enhanced the programme, making it a truly unforgettable experience. It is my sincere hope that Haroon receives recognition for his outstanding work, as I can think of no one more deserving of such an honour.”

Haroon is continuing to mentor this student, as well as taking on another mentee for the second cycle of the year. In addition to his Career Mentoring, Haroon has also supported three Group Mentoring sessions for Computer Science students. In each session, he has shown his willingness to support and offer his knowledge, expertise, and experience. He took the time to create excellent support materials and slides, which he has then shared with the students to help them prepare for their group project and presentation. He has even offered to stay in touch with the students beyond the three sessions.

Haroon has truly gone the extra mile in all of his voluntary work with Westminster, and he is a very deserving recipient of this award.

Dr Emily Rosado (Journalism (International) MA, 1999)

Dr Emily Rosado has taught at Montgomery College in Maryland for fifteen years, dedicating her career to teaching students about social justice issues on both a local and global scale. Emily has been volunteering for Westminster since 2016, including hosting Westminster Working Culture (WWC) students in Washington DC three times.

Emily has been a dedicated, long-serving volunteer for Westminster in many different capacities. Emily has been a podcast speaker, shared alumni profiles, supported Equality, Diversity and Inclusion (EDI) initiatives at Westminster and supported WWC Washington DC in 2018, 2019 and 2022. Emily serves as an advisor to the Westminster EDI Programme Board and advocates for supporting Asian American voices which intersects with her recently completed doctoral studies on the experiences of AAPI (Asian American and Pacific Islander) faculty in higher education.

Emily’s support during the WWC Washington DC programmes has been outstanding, and her advocacy for reducing stigma around mental illness has really touched and helped students to recognise the importance of looking after their mental health during their studies and beyond. One student from the 2022 WWC programme said: “Learning from Dr. Rosado about the importance of mental health during my studies and in the world of work has shown me that I should pay more attention to this field”. Describing Emily’s message as one of always striving to learn more, improve yourself and support others around you, the student was inspired by Emily to broaden their interests and enrich themselves during their time at university: “Being part of societies I’m interested in and learning new skills at university that sometimes have nothing to do with my studies can be beneficial for me in the future… as Dr. Rosado said ‘I could lose my house, I could lose money, but no one will ever take my education away from me’.”

Emily’s passion for supporting colleagues and students, her continued concerted effort to stay in contact with and support Westminster, and her positive, self-reflective insights over so many years have had an enormous impact on so many Westminster students. With her commitment to diversity, inclusion and wellbeing, Emily reflects Westminster’s values and actively works to further them both through her support of Westminster and her work overseas.

Speaking about the award, Emily said: “As someone who values service, I am truly honoured to be recognised for giving back to the institution that has played such an integral role in my personal and professional development.”

The Howard de Walden Estate

The Howard de Walden Estate, a founding member of the Chancellor’s Circle, have provided outstanding support to students at Westminster for over six years. The Howard de Walden Estate has funded annual scholarships for students who are estranged from their families, hosted internships and Westminster Working Cultures UK, supported mentoring programmes, and provided financial support for the University’s hardship fund during the cost-of-living crisis.

The Howard de Walden Estate is responsible for overseeing a diverse community of residents, educational institutions and businesses, including Marylebone Village’s retail and leisure offering and the world class healthcare providers of Harley Street Medical Area. The scholarships for estranged students have supported students with accommodations and living expenses, enabling them to focus on their studies and offering a lifeline to students who do not have the family support system we often take for granted. One previous scholarship recipient Laura Sanchez Hincapie, who graduated in 2022 said: “Being disabled and working was tough for me; I had more time to focus and study so my body wasn’t in distress. People like me want to succeed and make something of our lives. The funding is a game-changer to us – to feel that someone believes in us and our futures feels so encouraging, not only financially but emotionally. Like other students estranged from their families, I had never felt such support before; the Howard de Walden Estate changed my final year at university and my life.”

As well as financial support, the Howard de Walden Estate has provided employee mentors for over four years and summer internships for students to work at their Head Office. Interns are able to learn all aspects of the business from property management services to urban planning, architecture, finance and marketing. The Estate engages students through a wide variety of activities, from hosting 60 students for a morning workshop, individual mentoring relationships, to helping someone studying a property related degree get first-hand industry experience over the course of a month.

This year, the Estate is funding cost-of-living scholarship grants for real estate and architecture students enabling the recipients to focus fully on their studies by providing support for their daily living costs such as rent, utility bills, clothing, food, transport, and additional study materials. The Estate became a founding member of the Chancellor’s Circle this year, in recognition of their increased commitment to Westminster and its students.

The Estate responded to the award: “We are really humbled to be nominated and are honoured to have won. We look forward to growing our mutually beneficial relationship as part of our Chancellor’s Circle commitments. We are proud to support Westminster’s students, promote our industry and have the opportunity to engage our colleagues and learn new skills through this growing partnership.”