Magnus Magnusson Awards 2019 Helping students realise their dreams whilst making a positive local and global impact for the Common Good KBE Magnus Magnusson Glasgow Caledonian University Chancellor: 12 October 1929 to 7 January 2007 2002 - 2007 Since 2007, the Magnusson Awards have provided GCU students with incredible opportunities to realise their dreams whilst making a positive impact on the lives of others around the world. The Magnus Magnusson Fund was established by Glasgow Caledonian University, in honour of our late Chancellor, television presenter, journalist, writer, historian, professional Icelander and “lad o’pairts”, Magnus Magnusson KBE. Each year, thanks to the generous support from our donors, Dr Sally Magnusson GCU students have the opportunity to apply for a Magnusson Award of up to £5,000 to support their dreams and ambitions. Honorary President Shortlisted students have the opportunity to pitch their idea Magnus Magnusson Fellowship in front of a panel of donors chaired by Honorary President, Dr Sally Magnusson, with projects ranging from volunteering Journalist and broadcaster Dr Sally Magnusson, in developing countries to delivering community projects or daughter of Magnus and Honorary Graduate of GCU, starting their own business. And, what makes our awards has been at the forefront of the Magnusson Awards for truly unique is that no idea is out of bounds. 12 years. Sally worked closely with GCU Principal, Professor Pamela Gillies to establish the Magnusson We look forward to offering even more talented students Awards in memory of her late father. the opportunity to realise their dreams and ambitions in the coming years. She has chaired the award selection panel every year, ensuring her father’s passion and commitment to learning and life opportunities translates to those students chosen to receive an award. The Awards present an incredible opportunity for students and are in high demand, so selecting recipients “I feel thrilled and humbled that is a rigorous and rewarding process. so many students have benefitted Passionate and dedicated, Sally has taken an active role from the Magnusson Awards. in the ceremonies consistently since the Fund’s inception, I feel that these awards have kept presenting awards and interviewing former recipients, me connected to my father and the and ensuring participants have a wonderful experience. part of my father’s life that was GCU Sally is also Honorary President of the Magnus Magnusson which was so precious to him.” Fellowship. Hosted by GCU, the Fellowship is comprised of a group of prestigious international figures who come together Dr Sally Magnusson to discuss issues of societal concern, challenging themselves to come up with creative ideas and always with Magnus’ own interests and contribution to public life at the forefront. 1 2 “ A very warm welcome to the 12th annual Magnus Magnusson “ It is a true honour to be part of the Magnus Magnusson Awards celebration here at GCU. Magnus Magnusson was Awards at Glasgow Caledonian University. My father loved Chancellor of our University for five years, and carried out meeting the students at the heart of the GCU community, his duties with great enthusiasm and tireless dedication. and cherished his time as Chancellor. These awards ensure that Magnus’ contribution to our University, and Scottish education in general, will always Every year I so enjoy coming back to GCU to hear all the be remembered. developments, and being on the Magnusson Awards panel is a real highlight. It is incredible to think we have been making Past winners have travelled across the globe, changing the lives dream projects possible for 12 years now and I never fail to be of people in over 30 countries. We are delighted to welcome inspired by the ideas and exciting new projects presented to us. three former winners back to GCU to tell you about the positive impact that receiving a Magnus Magnusson Award With so many wonderful and worthy ideas, choosing the has had. I’m sure you will find them as inspiring as I do. winning projects is always a real challenge, but one I welcome and I know my father would have embraced. None of these awards would be possible without the incredibly generous support provided by our donors to the Receiving applications from students across GCU campuses Magnusson Fund and to them I express my most sincere in Glasgow, London, and recently Mauritius, has added an thanks. Gifts from individuals and organisations who share exciting new dimension to the Awards, and I look forward to the University’s ongoing pledge to support the Magnus seeing what ideas are presented to us in future years. Magnusson Awards has enabled us to raise an incredible £450,000 so far. I look forward to welcoming many of them Our 2019 winners are once again a vibrant group of young back to GCU this evening. people who I know will make good use of this special grant and act as worthy ambassadors for the University and the Professor Pamela Gillies CBE FRSE Tonight we congratulate these young people who embody so Dr Sally Magnusson DLitt Awards. I can’t wait to hear about their accomplishments Principal and Vice-Chancellor many of Magnus’ own personal interests and values – we wish Honorary President and wish them the very best for the future.” Glasgow Caledonian University them every success with their endeavours.” Magnus Magnusson Fellowship 3 4 2019 Magnusson Award Winners Hanna Akalu Hannah Gibbs Amanda Graham and Emily Ross PhD, GCU London BSc Nursing Studies (Adult Nursing) MSc International Fashion Marketing GCU Magnusson Award Santander Universities Magnusson Award Sir Alex Ferguson Magnusson Award Hanna plans to develop a community project in East London Hannah will be spending five weeks working as a nurse in wards SKYA is a sustainable swimwear brand which features to empower local Muslim women who have been adversely and clinics in Cambodia. This is facilitated by the company 100% recyclable and bio-degradable fabrics to help affected by social and cultural inequalities. Being a member Work the World who organise healthcare electives for students reduce the amount of plastics ending up in the oceans. of this community herself, Hanna has a strong awareness of worldwide. On this placement, she will experience how to work the significant barriers facing minority women, and is deeply in very different hospital environments, learning to meet the After noticing a lack of sustainable fashion brands, passionate about making positive long-lasting change to bind challenges of language barriers and limited resources to treat especially in the UK, Amanda and Emily hope to be communities together. patients in the hospitals of Phnom Penh. a part of the urgent change needed across the industry to create a more sustainable future. Their swimwear Hanna will explore the use of art in helping to bridge the Hannah will also have the opportunity to do a one week outpost will be affordable, good quality, to fit all shapes and sizes, “ The 2019 winners have some truly gap between marginalised communities and wider society in a village clinic and stay with a local family, accompanied by and crucially, sustainable. exciting plans and I look forward to by facilitating positive interactions and connecting people a translator. hearing how their projects progress. to explore issues of wellness and community cohesion. “ We have always wanted to be entrepreneurs and The project’s outcomes will be showcased at an exhibition “ I was absolutely thrilled to be awarded the Magnusson thanks to the award, our dreams are becoming a reality. I have no doubt they will act as to promote cultural engagement and to have a transformative Award. This opportunity is something I never imagined We feel extremely lucky to be chosen and the funding impact for those involved in the project. being able to access. I am excited (and a little bit nervous) will go towards the necessary costs of setting up our worthy global ambassadors for about the challenges ahead, and I am grateful to be able to own business. We’ve worked really hard to get this GCU and the Magnusson Awards. “ This award will allow me to undertake a community project experience it in an environment where I will have the support started and really appreciate the help and support that will have a huge impact on the lives of minority women of experienced organisers and will be staying with other that Glasgow Caledonian University has given us.” I wish them every success.” in the community. As someone who is very passionate about students from around the world.” Dr Sally Magnusson issues of social justice and equality, I am incredibly grateful that the Magnusson Fund is supporting my dream to create positive social change.” 5 6 Morgan Mickelson Jade Murphy Audrey Mutongi Martha Nasike MSc Climate Justice BA (Hons) International Fashion Branding Postgraduate Research School of Economics: MSc Risk Management Sir Alex Ferguson Magnusson Award Merchants House Magnusson Award Community Development Catherine Koranchie GCU Magnus Magnusson Award and Katharina Winterhalder Morgan’s award will enable her to experience how women from Jade’s dream has always been to work in fashion, particularly MSc Social Business and Microfinance rural communities are finding new and empowering methods of in London, the UK’s fashion capital. This summer she will Audrey will use her award to extend and enhance her social Mike Smith Magnusson Award adaptation for their way of life, in the face of climate change. undertake a internship with A1 PR Company in Shoreditch, enterprise, The No.1 Befriending Agency. London with her award assisting with associated travel and Catherine, Martha and Katharina all benefitted personally from Morgan will use her award to travel to Vanuatu, a small cluster accommodation costs. The Agency’s mission is to promote fullness of life and reduce an educational scholarship.