We are delighted to report that at the recent Create Awards ceremony, two of our postgraduate researchers were recognised for their achievements.
Vashti Suwa Gbolagun won the Dean’s Award.
Hannah Helm won the Performance, English and Creative Writing Award.
Congratulations to Vashti and Hannah, who write about their experience below!
VASHTI writes:
Winning the Dean’s award at the Create Awards night on the 9th of June 2022 means a lot to me. To be recognised for going above and beyond reading and writing to engaging with and making some impact in my community through creative writing is such a beautiful and rewarding experience. It is a testament to the fact that given the right environment and support team, there is no telling the height or reach of one’s dream.
I remember when I came here at the beginning of my PhD journey. I was unsure of how the ride would be because I was from a different background and culture. But I had a team of people who believed in me and reassured me I could do it even when I did not believe in myself. With little knowledge about creative writing but with the freedom given to me by the department to explore with my imagination, I began to unearth hidden gems buried in me. Even when it looked impossible and I was on the verge of not continuing my PhD journey, I got the support needed for me to continue and today, it is a different story.
I am grateful to Dr Judy Kendall, Dr Jade Munslow Ong, Dr Emma Barnes and most especially Dr Ursula Hurley who has continued to believe in me and given me opportunities to excel. My story and experience is a demonstration of how supportive and encouraging the department of English is. I am thankful to have been in this department and mentored by the best and most supportive team anyone could ask for.
Read more about Vashti’s research and watch an interview here.
HANNAH writes:
I was absolutely delighted to win the Performance, English and Creative Writing Award at the Create Awards on Thursday 9th June 2022. It is a real honour to be recognised for my PhD research, teaching, and extra-curricular work; winning this award has made me feel very proud of what I have achieved since I first enrolled at the university in January 2020. Even though, unfortunately, I was unable to attend the Awards in person, I was still able to experience my win at home with all of my family (and Jade, via WhatsApp!) cheering me on. It was an unforgettable experience, and my trophy now has pride of place on my desk, inspiring me to dig deep, push through, and carry on during the difficult final stages of my PhD.
I would like to dedicate a huge thank you to my wonderful supervisors, Dr Jade Munslow Ong and Dr Mark Yates, for continuously supporting and inspiring me in a professional and personal sense during my time at Salford. I am so lucky to be a part of such an encouraging network of talented scholars and students. I would also like to congratulate my fellow finalists Claire Bounds and Fatima Khan – your own work sounds amazing, and I wish you all the best with your future studies. I look forward to embarking on the final chapter of what has been an incredibly rewarding and enjoyable postgraduate journey in the English Department at the University of Salford.
Read more about Hannah’s research and watch an interview here.
