Triple celebration for Cambridge students helping gifted children achieve

Her Royal Highness, the Duchess of Gloucester presented the awards on behalf of the National Association for Gifted Children (NAGC) and their new volunteering programme, ICE (Inspire, Challenge and Excel). The programme encourages young members of the Association to use their talents to encourage others to fulfill their potential. Cambridge students scooped three of the seven Volunteer Awards up for grabs.

Trinity Hall undergraduate Andy McGowan, received a Diversity Award in recognition of his academic and voluntary achievements despite having been a full time carer for both his parents since the age of six. Andy has recently been elected Cambridge University Student Union Access Officer for the next academic year. His Tutor, Dr William O’Reilly says:

"Andy has brought so very much to the life of Trinity Hall, and the wider University, since he came up to read Law. He is a relentless force for positive change and has faced personal challenges head-on with maturity, assisting others to reach for the highest levels of personal and social achievement. We congratulate Andy and look forward to seeing him as CUSU Access Officer in the year ahead."

Third year Pembroke undergraduate Laura McKoy was presented with the Gareth Evans Achievement Award. This award recognises the real difference that a recipient’s gifts and talents have made to the community, and is given in memory of the achievements of Gareth Evans who was born in 1961 and read Maths and Computer Science at Cambridge.

Laura, who is Pembroke’s outgoing Student Access Officer, attributes her achievement to the support, encouragement and kindness of all the staff at Pembroke College. Her Director of Studies, Nicholas McBride describes Laura as;

“A truly outstanding student who has managed to be consistently successful academically, while doing a huge amount of work for Pembroke, Cambridge University and people in need in Cambridge generally. She will be greatly missed after she graduates in June."

Pembroke’s Admissions Tutor, Dr Caroline Burt agrees:

“Laura has been a tremendous asset to Pembroke College and Cambridge University. Her boundless enthusiasm and generosity with her time have been wonderful to see; she has worked so hard to encourage bright students to visit the College and the University, and to consider applying to us; her efforts have made a real difference to many people.”

Murray Edwards undergraduate Cheney Payne received the Intern award after spending last summer researching the needs of the carers of gifted and talented children. She wrote a report which is being used by the charity to inform its policy.

Denise Yates, Chief Executive of the National Association for Gifted Children, says Cheney made a huge difference to NAGC in a very short time:

 “Her research focused on the needs of gifted and talented children in care and specifically the kinds of issues facing the carers of these children. “Who cares for the carers of gifted children” was a groundbreaking piece of work and Cheney’s award is entirely justified.”

Since arriving at Cambridge, Laura, Andy and Cheney have all thrown themselves into activities organised by the University and Colleges aimed at widening participation in Higher Education. These include student shadowing schemes, school visits and residential events aimed at introducing students from a range of widening participation backgrounds to university life and what it might mean for their futures.  Please follow the links on the side bar for further details.