Newnham College’s Guild of Friends Prizes celebrate the best of College life, through the students who make Newnham special.
Students, staff and tutors were all invited to nominate the undergraduates who they felt should be recognised by the College for their contribution in 2018-19.
These prizes celebrate achievements and contributions beyond the academic: sporting achievements; artistic, musical or theatrical work; work to benefit broader society; in short, whatever members of College feel should be celebrated today. Newnham’s Guild of Friends, who fund the prizes, work to enrich College life.
“The community we have here is one of passion, creativity, and kindness.”
Many nominations came in, and the stories they told made us proud of the College and the students here. Selecting the winners was a difficult process: the six who were awarded prizes are some of the many outstanding people who make up our College community.
The JCR Committee said “Newnham students are proud of our college, and these prizes show that Newnham College is proud of its students. The community we have here is one of passion, creativity, and kindness. Non-academic prizes, such as the Guild of Friends prize, reflect the centrality of these core values in our college, and provide us with an opportunity to celebrate them. At Cambridge University it is often academic excellence that draws the most focus of praise, and these prizes create a platform to showcase how our community at Newnham places equal importance on other qualities.”
2018-19 Guild Friends Prize Winners
Kadya Wittenberg was JCR Welfare Officer – and president of Newnham BakeSoc! She combines the two with Welfare Tea and relaxing baking evenings; she offers genuine advice along with a biscuit; she makes people laugh, and she takes time to listen.
Her nominator said “She has a huge heart, with love that everyone in College has felt. She is everything that Newnhamites are proud to be and I, for one, am proud to know her.”
Rowenna Patten is thoughtful, engaged, and prepared to go above and beyond to make a difference. In her role as JCR Academic and Disabilities Officer, she was always ready not only to make helpful and concrete suggestions, but to see them through to completion, with confidence in her own judgement.
Her nominator commented “Rowenna has made an outstanding contribution to college life”.
Georgina Jones was an outstanding JCR Freshers President last year, described by her nominator as “hugely proactive, kind, organised and calm”.
She offered continuous support to the new students, and the staff working with them, during Michaelmas term 2018. The result was a first-year group who were particularly well integrated and settled in their University life. Georgie’s smile is a delight to see around the College.
Emmaline Okafor was the 2019 President of the Ospreys, the club supporting Cambridge University sportswomen and raising the profile of women’s sport. Throughout her time at Cambridge she competed at Varsity level in Athletics, specialising in the hammer and discus.
We’ve all been proud of her outstanding successes over her four years here: Emmaline is also well-known as a loyal and supportive friend, and a strong believer in sport as a way to build confidence and empower people.
Katie Jones and Rhiannon Smith were the joint captains of Newnham College Boat Club as it powered its way to Head of the River. While this has been a year of great success for NCBC, it has also been a year of strain, as the club has faced the challenge of losing its long-term shared home in Jesus College Boat House. Throughout, the captains have kept their determination, good humour and good sense.
Their nominator said of Katie and Rhiannon that “their leadership captures the spirit of Newnham – determined, inclusive, kind and courageous.”