Exceptional students honoured at Health and Life Sciences awards evening

Walking 40 miles along the Cornish coast and competing in an international ironman are just some of the achievements recognised at a University of Exeter student prize evening.

Now in its tenth year, the Faculty of Health and Life Sciences prize evening recognises the academic excellence and extracurricular activities of students in health-related disciplines.

In total 43 prizes were awarded, many commending those who reached the highest academic grades within their course.

Included in the extensive award categories were the Citizenship Awards, which celebrates Medicine students who have made significant contributions to communities.

Maisie Harvey and Ella Daly were among those honoured and together received a joint charity citizenship award for their efforts to combat period poverty. Their fundraising campaign consisted of a 20-hour walk, which represented the 20% of school that is missed by 95% of girls in Ghana due to menstruation. This feat, in which the girls covered the 39-mile from Crantock to St Ives in Cornwall, raised £2,700 to supply reusable sanitary products to girls in Ghana, supporting their access to education.

Maisie said: “We feel very lucky to have been awarded the community prize. We chose to support girls in Ghana because we both really care about women’s and global health and are passionate about period poverty.”

Ella added: “It was such an amazing feeling finally crossing the finish line, having walked 92,500 steps along the South West Coast Path. We are so proud that the money we raised allowed us to distribute 364 reusable period packs across three villages, a church and two schools in Ghana, while providing sexual and reproductive health education to the communities.”

The same prize category also recognised Henry Kennaway with the Newquay Health Centre Sporting Achievement Prize for successful completion of an Ironman World Championship. After reaching number one ranking for 18-24 year olds in the UK, Henry went on to compete in Nice, France.

Finishing 488^th out of 2,002 participants, Henry said: ‘Winning this prize means a lot to me. It shows you can perform high-level sports while juggling a very busy medical school schedule. My proudest moment was crossing the finish line at the Ironman World Championships where all my hard-work and sacrifices finally paid off. It made me realise I’m so much stronger than I ever thought. I really hope I can inspire future patients and colleagues and show that ‘movement is medicine’ no matter the distance covered, or time taken.”

The BMBS (medicine) community citizenship award was presented to Aksa Anzy recognising her commitment to creating a more inclusive and diverse environment within the university by celebrating smaller, underrepresented cultures. Aksa set up the South Asian Society which hosted many events around traditional celebrations, cuisine, and cultural heritage. This society has enhanced cultural awareness and inclusivity for both South Asian students, others.

Aksa said: “Winning the Community Prize was incredibly humbling and fulfilling. It was a recognition of the passion, hard work, and countless hours that went into creating a welcoming and inclusive space for smaller cultures on campus. The award wasn’t just about me—it was about the whole community that came together to make this place feel like home for so many. Seeing the impact we had on students, from building friendships to celebrating different cultures, made it all so worthwhile.”

Dean of the Medical School, Richard Holland said: “We’re so proud of our community here at Exeter, and these awards are a testament to the hard work and excellence of our students both academically and in the community. We’re celebrating students who have shown commitment to their learning, and to create meaningful benefits for patients and the public. I’d also like to recognise the high quality of teaching and support here at the university that allows our students to flourish.”

Full list of winners: