St John’s academics and postgraduates reach finals of student-led awards
Annual presentations give students chance to highlight exceptional contributions
Five members of the St John’s community have been shortlisted for awards after being nominated by Cambridge University students for outstanding teaching and pastoral support.
The annual Student-Led Teaching Awards (SLTAs) celebrate academic and non-academic staff across the University and its Colleges, providing an opportunity for students to highlight exceptional contributions to their education at Cambridge. Run by Cambridge SU, the SLTAs are entirely led by students.
Nearly 500 nominations were received for this year’s prizes, with 45 members of staff shortlisted across nine categories, including the five members of St John’s. They are: Stefania Costea, Rebecca Heath, Dr Anna Plumridge, Dr Nick Friedman and Dr Viviane Carvalho da Annunciação.
“My students reminded me why I love teaching so much and this is a gift I’ll cherish”
Postgraduate students Stefania Costea and Rebecca Heath are both finalists in the Small Group Teaching Award. Stefania, who is doing a PhD in Theoretical and Applied Linguistics at St John’s and was also shortlisted for a STLA in 2021, said: “There are academic years in our lives we’d wish lasted forever. Years in which we fall in love with life. This past academic year was one of those for me: my students reminded me why I love teaching so much and this is a gift I’ll cherish forever. They nominated me for this prize, but in fact I should be the one to nominate them for a ‘Student(s) of the Year’ award.
“So I’ll take this opportunity to thank them for always coming to our supervisions with a huge smile, for playfully fighting over my glittery pens, for coming to the Romanian classes – and making me feel ‘home’ for a couple of hours – and for turning Monday into my favourite day of the week.”
“It is incredibly rewarding to watch students have that ‘eureka’ moment, and to play a role in supporting them on their journeys”
Rebecca, who is a College Teaching Associate at St John’s and PhD student in Economics at Churchill College, said: “I am absolutely delighted to have been shortlisted for a Student-Led Teaching Award. Supervisions are a highlight of my working week, with the students never failing to put a smile on my face. It is incredibly rewarding to watch students have that eureka moment, and to play a role in supporting them on their journeys. I would like to thank my students; teaching is a collaborative process and this would not be possible without their endless enthusiasm and engagement.”
“We all know how hard the students work on their academic studies, but I’m increasingly aware of how hard they are working in their personal lives”
Dr Nick Friedman, Dean of Discipline and Fellow of St John’s, is shortlisted in the Student Support (Academic staff) category. He said: “I’m extremely touched to be nominated for this award. We all know how hard the students work on their academic studies, but I’m increasingly aware of how hard they are working in their personal lives: overcoming individual challenges, standing up for their values, and figuring out who they want to be. Some of the most important work that we do as teachers is guiding them on that journey.”
“I see this nomination as a glowing reflection of my students’ passion and dedication”
Dr Anna Plumridge, a Research Fellow in English at St John’s, is up for the Inclusive Practice Award. She said: “It has been a real privilege to work with such engaged and thoughtful students this year. I see this nomination as a glowing reflection of their passion and dedication. During my time at Cambridge, I’ve benefited from such intellectually generous and supportive supervision myself; I see my own teaching as an opportunity to pay forward some of this commitment. I’m therefore greatly honoured and touched to be nominated.”
“As a teacher, it is a recognition that it takes more than content-based lectures and plans to help students to excel”
Dr Viviane Carvalho da Annunciação, who recently completed her PhD in Brazilian literature at St John’s, is a finalist in the Student Support (Non-academic staff) Award. In addition to teaching Portuguese at Cambridge University Language Centre (CULP), she is a Mentor at the Accessibility and Disability Resource Centre (ADRC), working with a wide range of neurodiverse undergraduate and postgraduate students.
She said: “After being diagnosed with dyspraxia back in 2018, I have developed a great sensibility to students who, like me, are disadvantaged in a higher educational environment. With the proper support from the ADRC and the College, I discovered a myriad of new ways of learning and producing outstanding results, as well as new strategies to overcome my learning difficulty. Being a mentor means I can help and guide students in a similar situation and provide them with the tools they need to fulfil their potential.
“Being nominated for the Student-Led Teaching Awards makes me delighted because it highlights the importance of places like the ADRC, which see the incredible intelligence, capability and promise of neurodiverse students who, for any reason, are struggling in a standard educational environment. As a teacher, it is a recognition that it takes more than content-based lectures and plans to help students to excel.”
The awards ceremony will take place on Tuesday 16 May.
Full list of shortlisted nominees
Published: 5/5/2023
Update: 17/5/2023
Two St John's nominees among 2023 award-winners
At the awards ceremony held on 16 May at St Barnabas Church, Cambridge, Stefania Costea was named winner of the Small-Group Teaching Award (Arts, Humanities & Social Science) and Dr Viviane Carvalho da Annunciação won the Student Support (Non-Academic Staff) category.