Fashion wins big at the Rose Awards

Kingston University’s fashion department was awarded the Best Project of the Year in a Hollywood-style gala at the Rose Theatre last week.

The trophy was taken by the fashion department in collaboration with the Women’s Institute, with a project that celebrated 100 years of knitwear crafting.

Course director Elinor Renfrew said: “We are particularly proud to have received an award in the most hotly-contested category. The WI project continues to reap benefits as the students’ work is showcased across the country.”

The runner up for the same category was the business and law team while the IT services department was highly commended for its contribution to the University.

Students from the department joined forces with members of the Women’s Institute to craft a collection that was unveiled in a catwalk show at the Royal Albert Hall.

The Race Equality Charter Mark Team took home the award for Exceptional Contribution to the Community/Environment after Kingston University became one of only eight universities to achieve the Race Quality Charter Mark’s bronze award.

The Union of Kingston Students’ Volunteering team came runner up in the same category, with the Holocaust Memorial Day Event and Art Competition, a project that commemorated the 70th anniversary of the end of the Holocaust.

The team worked in partnership with the University Chaplain, Andrew Williams, and Head of Student Wellbeing, Pat Wrangles.

“We were keen to involve younger people in the remembrance of the Holocaust. The national theme for the Holocaust Memorial Day this year was ‘keeping the memory alive’, so we felt it was important to engage the younger generation and raise awareness of the event. We thought art was a good way to do that,” Mr Williams said. “All the events attracted visitors from across the community. It was a remarkably creative effort.”

The nutrition academic staff in the Faculty of Science, Engineering and Computing won the award for outstanding service, after the University topped the chart for the most satisfied nutrition students in the country according to the National Student Survey.

The Learning Resources Centre (LRC) staff were runners up for the same prize while the Designated Personal Tutor Team for Care Leavers were highly commended.

Members of staff across all faculties and departments saw their success being celebrated at The Rose Awards Ceremony 2015, a glamorous red carpet event attended by over 200 people.