The winning tutor nominations were from Emily Wingfield (University of Birmingham), Elizabeth Rawlinson-Mills (University of Cambridge) and Anna Harrison (University of Roehampton). This is a record breaking third time Anna Harrison has successfully nominated one of her students! Anna writes: Each year at Roehampton University, we look forward to opening the box from Norfolk Children’s Book Centre containing the UKLA shortlists. Even better, is sharing those texts with students over a period of time and discovering diverse authors, mulling over new concepts, and sharing ‘reading moments’ together…. To find out that one of our students had won a place was so wonderful as experiencing a UKLA International Conference is likely to lead to a lasting impact for that student as she embarks on her teaching career. I know my student will become a future English leader and as such needs support and encouragement to fulfil that role.
Emily Wingfield (University of Birmingham) nominated students for the first time this year and, for the first time ever, three were selected for sponsored places from one university. Congratulations Emily! She writes: It was wonderful to take part with my students on the UKLA Book Award Shadowing Scheme. I convene a new final year module on children’s picturebooks at the University of Birmingham and we spend a lot of time thinking in theory and practice about how picturebooks work both on and off the page. My students had already shown a keen interest in a number of the short-listed books, and so, after all of their exams and assessments were completed, it was wonderful to see their enthusiasm continue to grow as we talked through the strengths of the chosen titles and thought about how to share them with young people. On a personal note, I also loved reading the books with my 6-year old daughter, who in turn took all of them into her school. Her teacher immediately came up with all sorts of new activities involving the titles and I received some lovely reviews and letters from the children, as well as comments from parents whose children had talked about the books at home. The 6-year old and 21-year old shadowers were united in their choice of favourites too.
The NEU Sponsored Students 2022 were all awarded their certificates at the UKLA Book Awards Ceremony on July 1st in Birmingham, a place at the dinner and chance to meet shortlisted authors and illustrators and to get books signed, an overnight stay at the hotel, the Saturday conference and a lunchtime meeting with UKLA EC members. They were also offered free UKLA membership for one year and we look forward to their joining our WhatsApp Shadowing groups next year.
The 2022 Sponsored Students are:
University of Birmingham, Evelyn West, Emily Garratt and Naadia Hussein nominated by Emily Wingfield
University of Cambridge, Dhechen Lama nominated by Elizabeth Rawlinson-Mills
University of Roehampton, Emily Scott, nominated by Anna Harrison
Evie West writes: I just wanted to say a huge thank you for this amazing – maybe life-changing! – weekend. It was such a privilege to be able to meet and talk to so many inspiring people, from the authors and illustrators at the evening meal to the UKLA people at lunch. Please pass on my thanks to the rest of the organisation, I can’t thank you all enough for your generosity.
We thank the NEU for their generous sponsorship for this award, and are delighted that the NEU is keen to continue and grow our partnership . The certificates were presented at the award ceremony by Louise Atkinson, Vice-President and class teacher who wrote: I’ve been pestering colleagues in school and NEU members to join UKLA since I attended. July 23rd is in the diary for the award ceremony at the University of Exeter!
Find out more about the UKLA Book Awards Shadowing Programme here!
