On Saturday, 19 June 2021 we held our second ever Alumni Awards and Alumni Celebration event, to round off the inaugural Sutton Trust Alumni Festival.

The event was a wonderful celebration of our alumni achievements, with some DJ-ing and games thrown in!  

The winners were announced by our Keynote Speaker, Sutton Trust alumna and founder of The 93% Club – Sophie Pender, and were up against a shortlist of impressive nominees – who span a range of industries, and experience – and are all exceptional young people who are going above and beyond to make a difference and help others.  

The Sutton Trust alumni award for social mobility is awarded to the alum who demonstrates significant achievements in initiatives that work to champion social mobility. In this category, the shortlisted alums are:   

Nominees shortlist for Social Mobility Activist: 

  • Martim Pereira, Summer Schools 2018/2019 
  • Lois Hill, Summer Schools 2018/2019 

WINNER:  Jem Collins, University of Oxford Summer School, 2009

What the judging panel said: 

“As Founder and Director of Journo Resources, a non-profit which provides free tools for aspiring journalists, Jem has made a clear demonstrative difference in helping to level the playing field in an industry where a lack of diversity and social mobility persists.  Jem is conscious of the different needs of Journo’s community, ensuring that Journo only advertises paid opportunities, making the industry more accessible. Jem is a worthy winner of the Social Mobility Award, with her work to help disadvantaged people ‘break into the media industry’ regularly reported in local and national media publications. Well done, Jem!” 

The Sutton Trust alumni outstanding achievement award will go to the alum who has demonstrated exceptional achievements across any field. In this category, the shortlisted alums are:   

Nominees shortlist for Outstanding Achievement:  

  • Carla Melaco, Sutton Trust US Programme 2020/2021 
  • Kiera Riddy, Pathways to Law 2013/2014 
  • Charlotte Picardo, Summer Schools 2020/2021 
  • Hannah Dalgleish, Summer Schools 2007/2008 
  • Bianca Caratov, Pathways to Law 2011/2012 
  • Sophia Moreau, Summer Schools 2011/2012 

WINNER: Emily Rickman, University of Cambridge Summer School, 2011

What the judging panel said: 

“From her impressive academic background, to her work with major scientific organisations such as NASA and the European Space Agency, Emily is a very worthy winner of the Outstanding Achievement Award. She is a strong role model for other alumni, with a clear drive to breakdown stereotypes of women and LGBTQ+ people in Science through her regular talks, seminars and media contributions. Congratulations Emily!” 

The judges for the awards were Tina Hene (Friend / Supporter of the Sutton Trust), and Josiah Senu, Tom Seddon and Rory Daniels (members of our Alumni Leadership Board). 

We wanted to thank everyone who submitted nominations and to all those who joined us on 19 June for the ceremony. The Sutton Trust is proud to have such a distinguished and supportive alumni community and we’re pleased to be able to recognise our alumni in this way.  

Note that current Alumni Leadership Board members are unable to be recognised for these awards.