The Larmor Awards recognise ‘intellectual qualifications, moral conduct, or practical activities’

Seven new graduates of St John’s have been honoured with 2022 Larmor Awards for ‘outstanding’ academic work and contributions to the life of the College.

The awards began in the 1940s to recognise ‘intellectual qualifications, moral conduct, or practical activities’ and are named after Sir Joseph Larmor, a 20th-century physicist and mathematician who was both a student and Fellow at St John’s.

This year’s winners, who graduated this summer, are: Adi Levin, Candela Louzao Carabel, Sophie McInerney, Joseph Hancock, Paula Espada Blanco, Felix Haynes and Andrew Lika (né Neziri). The alumni were each presented with a unique piece of silver, designed by a contemporary British silversmith, when they were invited back for a special ceremony at the Master’s Lodge on Friday 25 November. The prizewinners also each receive a financial prize.

Adi Levin, who studied for a BA in Modern and Medieval Languages, graduated with a First with Distinction – ranking first within the Faculty’s Italian Department. Her academic awards include the St John’s College Prize and Whytehead Scholarship (2019- 2022) and this year’s Cunningham Prize, Cox (Wright) Prize and Italian Department Prize for the most outstanding performance in Italian at Part II.

Adi was involved in many cultural activities at St John’s, mostly revolving around art and publicity. She designed the current St John’s JCR student committee website, working closely with the JCR to launch and publicise the Consent John’s campaign, and was Head of Publicity for St John’s FemSoc. She was President of St John’s Art Society 2019-2020 and graphic designer for Fitzwilliam Museum Society for two years. She designed posters for student theatre and was Publicity Officer for Cambridge Women Lawyers’ Society and Cambridge Jazz Society.

As a student ambassador she carried out access and outreach work and was Staff-Student Liaison for the German Faculty, translating two opera libretti from Italian to English for music societies. Adi was also an editor of the Cambridge Language Collective – an online publication dedicated to arts and culture – and at the Studienstiftung Sommerakademie hosted at St John’s in 2019, she worked closely with German students and academics to discuss sustainable solutions to the climate crisis.

Engineer Candela Louzao Carabel, who graduated with Honours with Distinction in her MEng, served as joint JCR President from Lent Term 2020 until the start of Lent Term 2021 – the first year of the pandemic. Her Tutor Dr Georgina Evans, who nominated her for a Larmor Award, said: “Candela did an incredible job of adapting the work of the JCR to suit ever-changing rules and student needs during lockdowns and periods of extreme restriction.”

Her work was not always visible to the wider College community but Dr Evans said she acted ‘with incredible generosity and warmth’.

Candela was also recommended for ‘her sense of belief in the College community’, commitment to keeping people connected and supporting one another, and also the difficulties of having to enforce unfamiliar rules and carry out numerous risk assessments. Her co-President Tim d’Aboville received a Larmor Award in 2021.

Mathematician Sophie McInerney has been described as ‘an outstanding student’. Her Tutor The Rev’d Dr Mark Oakley, who nominated her, said: “In the last two years, she has been the top student in Mathematics within St John’s and finished her degree with an Honours Pass with Distinction at Part III, ranking sixth out of 257.

“She has been a model student and a fantastic example for others to follow. Outside of her studies, Sophie has contributed generously to College and University life. Most recently, she has served on the May Ball Committee within College, and as Club Secretary for the Cambridge University Boxing Blues, for whom she also boxed.”

Sophie also contributed to the College’s widening participation initiatives as a student ambassador/trainer and has been active in open days and admission events.

The prizewinners were presented with their awards by Heather Hancock, Master of St John’s College

Joseph Hancock has sung in The Choir of St John’s throughout his time as an undergraduate as well as being a member of The Gentlemen of St John’s, where he is a Tenor Lay Clerk. Joseph, who also managed ‘The Gents’ for a year, came top of his Music Tripos and has been involved in significant extracurricular activities with the choir. 

He was Secretary of St John’s College Musical Society and contributed to its work more generally as a member. Joseph has also performed in a number of musical and theatrical productions, along with external performances and recordings.

Paula Espada Blanco, who read Human, Social and Political Sciences (HSPS) at St John’s, has also been described as ‘an outstanding student’ by her Tutor, Professor Eric Miska, who said she has made significant contributions to College life.

With an ‘exemplary’ work ethic, Paula achieved First Class results in 2021 and 2022. Outside of her studies, Paula was generous with her time. Dedicated to improving the welfare of students, she was Publicity Officer and then President of the JCR while serving as a student representative to the HSPS Faculty, and Head of Publicity at both the Cambridge Journal of Political Affairs and at Solidaritee.

“Her commitment to ensuring that students had a positive University experience despite the pandemic led her to organise in-person events at the end of the 2020/2021 academic year, overcoming difficulties posed by Covid-19, and in the 2021 Freshers’ Week,” added Professor Miska. “She successfully balanced her leadership commitments with her studies and set a fantastic example for others to follow.”

Felix Haynes graduated this year as the only student in his cohort of St John’s HSPS students to achieve a First in every year of his degree. Professor Miska, who nominated him for a Larmor Award, said: “He combined his natural talent with an excellent work ethic, which allowed him to excel in a very demanding course.”

As part of his extracurricular activities, Felix took on leadership roles within student charity movement May Week Alternative and St John’s College JCR – where he led an initiative to create the College’s 360-degree Virtual Tour during the pandemic, working closely with the College’s Communications team.

Felix has also entered national and international public speaking competitions, researched youth political engagement during summer vacations, and completed external digital courses on global political institutions and the impact of migration on cities.

Law graduate Andrew Lika has been honoured for being ‘an excellent advocate’ for survivors of domestic abuse, said his Tutor Dr Morag Morrison-Helme, who nominated him.

He has served as an Ask Me Ambassador for Cambridge Women’s Aid and volunteered at Advocacy After Fatal Domestic Abuse (AAFDA), Level Up and Respect UK. In June 2021, Andrew received a Gold Pro Bono award from the University of Cambridge Law Faculty and the university’s Law Society for voluntary work with AAFDA and Level Up and for work with Respect UK. Within College he served as Events Officer for St John’s FemSoc (2020-2021) and as President and Social Secretary in 2020-2022 for the Winfield Society (Law), which he dedicated himself to rejuvenating following the first year of the pandemic.

Dr Morrison-Helme said: “When he graduated in 2022 he left the Winfield Society in its strongest position for years, setting the incoming committee up for success by negotiating long-term sponsorship agreements with a Magic Circle law firm, and by putting together a portfolio of annual moots and wellbeing and employability events which will be of enormous value to students for years to come.”

The prizewinners were presented with their awards by Heather Hancock, Master of St John’s College.

Published 2/12/2022

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