The Alumni Volunteer Awards are a way for Teesside to recognise, thank and celebrate the many graduates who volunteer their time and expertise, and who do so much to support Teesside.
Exceptional individuals across Teesside’s global community inspire the student community, support the University’s governance, champion Teesside as an institution of choice, and underpin our institution’s teaching and research, at all times ensuring both are relevant and timely to the challenges affecting today’s economy, society and culture.
Teesside continues to be enriched by the contributions of its graduate volunteers. It’s time to say thank you to those who show exceptional dedication, leadership, innovation or creativity.
The categories for the 2025 Alumni Volunteer Awards are:
Recognising a graduate (from any graduation year), who has recently started their graduate volunteering journey and whose early accomplishments show promise, emerging impact and provide inspiration to others.
Volunteering, while perhaps limited in frequency, will have started to make an impact on current students, fellow graduates or the wider Teesside University community.
Recognising a graduate who has made an outstanding contribution over an extended period of time.
Volunteering needs to have been sustained, may have been central to raising the confidence of current students or fellow graduates, and overall should have contributed to advancing the institution.
Recognising a graduate who has made an outstanding contribution to Teesside over the past year.
Activity over the last year needs to have been meaningful and show activities going above and beyond to guide, advise and inspire.
Volunteering takes many forms and is inclusive of those who give their time and expertise, without payment, as guest speakers, panellists, mentors, employability guides, recruitment ambassadors, regional points of contact, governors, board members, curriculum advisors, business engagement facilitators - and similar.
Friday 14 March 2025
Yes, absolutely. Teesside University is proud to be a global community. Former students who give their time and expertise outside of the UK are very much part of its success.
We recognise all former students who have exited Teesside with an awarded qualification. This is inclusive of graduates from foundation-level through to doctoral degree – and all between. The graduate volunteer can have studied via any mode (full time, part time, online etc) and can live, work and volunteer for Teesside anywhere in the world.
Yes, absolutely. We're very lucky to have graduates willing to give their time and expertise. These Awards are an opportunity to recognise their commitment and supports the University maintaining excellence in quality frameworks such as TEF.
Our panel meets in Spring 2025 and the awards are announced during Volunteer Week (2–8 June)
The panel will be made up of representatives from each of our five academic Schools, plus individuals from Professional Service Offices who regular engage with graduate volunteers.
We welcome nominations and self-nominations. For either routes, the panel would want to see evidence as to the impact of volunteering, which may be best demonstrated through 3rd party testimony and advocacy.
When you submit your nomination online, you'll be guided through questions relevant to the category that you wish to nominate your person for. These questions will ask for specific evidence or impact statements that will support your nominee being seen in the best light by the panel. Naturally, the more detail you can share, the more informed the panel will be when considering the submission.
Alongside basics such as who you are and who is the person that you’re nominating, each category requires a supporting statement of no less than 200 words that outlines why you believe the individual is worthy of the award. You’ll also be asked to indicate the types of volunteering that have been carried out. The selection panel is looking for evidence and testimony against a range of elements unique to each category. For our Rising Star Alumni Volunteer Award and Alumni Volunteer of the Year Award volunteering needs to have occurred between 1 January 2024 and 14 March 2025 (this qualifies as volunteering in the last year). See our criteria for a full overview of elements that each of our award categories require you to evidence.
Yes, absolutely. There is no better testimony as to how impactful a graduate volunteer has been than students thinking enough of them to want to make a nomination.
This phrase encapsulates all employment sectors, inclusive of those who work in the charity sector, business, industry, manufacturing etc. Essentially any professional sector and related occupations.
A comprehensive overview of Award categories, eligibility, the nomination process and the judging process is available.
An Allied Health Professional who has long inspired student cohorts to explore the diversity of occupations possible within the NHS and wider healthcare landscape, Sheena Elliott has been described as an 'enlightening and passionate force for good'. Sheena has supported Food Nutrition & Health Science course members through informal mentoring and coaching - both on campus and remotely during pandemic times - ensuring and championing continued professional development for all.
A passionate supporter for connecting industry with academia, Paula has long showed advocacy in this space. Whether stepping up as Institution of Civil Engineers Teesside Student Liaison Officer in the 1990s, inspiring the next generation through regular guest lectures and informal mentoring, or providing industry perspectives via the University's Industrial Liaison Group - Paula is an accessible point of contact in the industry, going above and beyond her day-to-day role at Sir Robert McAlpine.
Alongside being a volunteer contributor to University press opportunities; as a passionate supporter of the local games community, Mara McGreal has been integral to developing confidence in early career professionals.
Maria has helped guide fellow PhD students – at Teesside University as well as worldwide - through her captivating Instagram channel where she shares doctoral life 'top tips' with her 24k+ followers. Despite the stresses and strains of completing her own PhD within the last year or so, Dr O'Hanlon has continued to encourage interest in STEM through her voluntary work with schools outreach, careers evenings and guest lecturing. Dr O'Hanlon also volunteers her time and expertise to help make locally delivered initiatives such as 'Pint of Science' a roaring success, all of which contributes to inspiring the next generation of STEM professionals.