Activities Awards 2010 - Bigger and better than ever before

This year, Societies Committee made it their aim to give the Activities Awards a bigger and more prestigious profile than ever before. My personal objective was to make it a true Activities Awards, encompassing Societies, Committees, Volunteering, Fund raising, and Communities. We also wanted to use it as an opportunity to show the wider community how fantastic our students are.

The committee each spent about 30 hours considering, debating, and eventually deciding on our 21 group awards from 300 nominations. They also had the incredibly difficult task of deciding which of our 27 individuals nominated for ‘Outstanding contribution’ deserved to be shortlisted, or receive Bronze, Silver, or Gold awards. In the case of ‘Outstanding contribution to Departmental Societies’ we had to awards three golds which was an exception to the rule as it was such a close challenge.

Originally, the committee organised this event for 160 people in Firth Court, with a strictly formal theme and a seated meal. When tickets went on sale, we sold out within 3 days – not all the shortlisted people had bought theirs, EEK! We made the snap decision (10 working days before the event!) to move it to the Octagon and aim to sell 250 tickets.

We actually organised it for a total of 280 people, with more still desperate for tickets. At just £10 a head including the James Bond themed Population, it was a night not to be missed. Key people from the Council and Philip Harvey the registrar of the University confirmed their attendance for this event, raising the profile of our students to the University and Sheffield.

The committee really pulled it off on the day, with 27 tables, a stage, the hall to decorate, and a run through to be had in just 4 hours due to the fair which finished at 3pm! Within hours the room looked stunning. All the silver and purple balloons had been blown up that day, causing bruised fingers from knotting, and severe frustration from all the tangling of ribbon! The balloon arch which was created by Danielle with the help of the committee was brilliant, although it had to be carefully snaked across the concourse without it floating away. An interesting challenge it has to be said!

Vitoria and Danielle’s wonderful table decorations were set up quickly with a small team. The purple and silver Societies Committee colours were reflected in everything at the awards. Each table had a balloon cluster, champagne bubbles, silver star confetti, and tiny individually wrapped silver and purple Cadbury’s dairy milk bars. Lemon Fresh also kindly did a table quiz, which was lemon themed and the winners, Tapton tapton barmy army, won a box of Fancie cupcakes, mmmm!

Ceilidh society and the Singers Society performed for us at the start and interval, which was brilliant. Everyone loved them and it gave a real taste of how tallented our students are. Next year we would like more performances, and a huge thanks goes to both these societies.

The whole evening went incredibly well, with everyone looking stunning, wonderful food, and Societies committee presenting awards incredibly confidently. All the winners can be found on the Awards webpages, but a particular well done must go to Economics Society who won ‘Society of the year’, and the International Students Committee who were crowned ‘Working committee of the year’.

On a personal level, I’d like to congratulate Societies committee for their incredible hard work on the awards – both new and old committee. Everyone had their particular roles, however EXTRA MASSIVE thanks go to…

Kab: for organising the awards and being in the driving seat on the night

Marium: for doing all the design work and keeping track of all the nominations.

Victoria and Danielle: for the best decs we could ever have imagined

Alan: doing the incredible powerpoint and slide shows

Rachel: for giving out the awards on stage

Sarah (treasurer): for putting up with me going ‘it’s fine, we’ll just find more money somethwere….’

Matt Stafford: generally picked up lots and an all round hero!

Bring on The Activities Awards 2011…

Love Claire xxx