Following the success of the inaugural awards in 2015, we were very pleased to support the scheme for its seventh year in 2021. The awards were created to recognise outstanding undergraduate and postgraduate IT students within the UK. In doing so, we hope to encourage students to pursue careers in IT, foster an entrepreneurial and charitable ethos among those students, and, more pragmatically, to give financial help to students on IT courses.
Criteria for the award included academic excellence, overcoming adversity, entrepreneurial skills, and contribution to charity or community. This year’s judging panel consisted of the Master Information Technologist (Mr Mark Holford), Alderman and Sheriff of the City of London (Professor Michael Mainelli), the Master Educator (Mr Richard Evans), WCIT Charity Chair & Past Master (Dr Stefan Fafinski), Chair of WCIT Charitable Operations Committee (Mr Richard Pone) and the WCIT Clerk (Mrs Susan Hoefling). Five universities made the shortlist for the final: University of Northampton, University of Warwick, the Open University, University of Hertfordshire and Cambridge University.
The winners were announced at a virtual awards ceremony on 17 February:-
| Gold award | John Cross, University of Northampton |
|---|---|
| Silver award | Samuel Ward, University of Warwick |
| Bronze award | Roman Toengi, the Open University |
| Manuel Gomes Rosmaninho, University of Hertfordshire | |
| Honourable mention | Daniel Carter, Cambridge University |
Congratulations to all our winners!
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