The Student Development & Activities Service (SDAS) and the Students’ Union (MetSU) successfully celebrated their 4th collaborative event to reward all the students and staff who have been involved in volunteering, training and academic support over the last year.
The event, which was held Upstairs at the Rocket under its amazing roof, was also the platform for the announcement of the forty students, who won the new Leading London initiative. To break down the formalities the Give It A Go (GIAG) Street Dance and university choir did give stunning performances.
The event started with a speech by the Director of the Graduate School, Professor George Ellison, highlighting some of the most important activities carried out this year. This was followed by some inspiring words by the Mayor of Islington, Councillor Stefan Kasprzyk, who encouraged students to participate not only in the university but also in the local community, in a very moving speech based on his own life experience and achievements. Ernest Reid Andreyevich, the president of the Diplomatic Society, gave the last speech of the night, who told the audience how a dream can become reality based on the experience of running the society and on how those extracurricular activities could be the seeds of a successful career.
Over 121 students and members of staff were awarded certificates of achievement by Professor George Ellison and the Mayor of Islington, in addition to this, 3 students received Student Volunteering England Gold Awards for their commitment and contribution; this award is a prestigious mark of excellence in student volunteering.
The event ended with a cocktail party for all attendees to network and also to commemorate the end of MetFest, which was a week-long activity to celebrate the student experience at London Metropolitan University.