Student nurses scoop prestigious awards

Student Nurses Daud Malida and Lily Scott have won Student Nursing Times Awards.

The pair, who are studying the four-year Nursing with Leadership MSci course at the University of Leicester, attended a glittering award ceremony at the Grosvenor Hotel in London on Friday (2 May).

They scooped the Mary Seacole Award for Outstanding Contribution to Diversity and Inclusion, and the Student Nurse of the Year (Children) awards respectively. 

Daud, 23, from Leicester, spent time throughout the course working as a student ambassador and peer mentor, as well as representing students on a regional level for NHS England, championing and empowering the student voice and creating a supportive and inclusive environment for all. He also founded the Global Ethnic Majority Healthcare Professionals Network, a ground-breaking initiative aimed at providing support for students from ethnic minority backgrounds in healthcare.

Speaking about him the judges said he truly embodied the spirit and values of Mary Seacole through his “unwavering dedication to patients, communities, and the nursing profession.”

They added that his “exceptional contribution to advancing diversity and inclusion in healthcare education marks him as trailblazer and a powerful force for positive change.” 

A delighted Daud, 23, said: “Helping to break down barriers within the nursing profession is a passion of mine but it wasn’t until they read out my name that I felt truly deserving of this award. My course leaders have been a real inspiration and tower of support to me throughout my course so I’d like to thank them too. The award shows that hard work pays off as well as having the right people around you.”

The judges described Lily as showing compassionate child nursing through holistic care that thoughtfully integrated both mental and physical health.

They said: “Her confidence, leadership, and the breadth of her achievements speak volumes about the inspiring nurse she is becoming.” 

Lily, 26, from Wetherby, who also has a Geography degree, said: “I was really attracted to the course at Leicester because of the leadership aspect it could give me. I decided to go into nursing after my Geography degree because I’d taken on a support worker role in mental health and enjoyed it so much. When I found out about the course in Leicester I thought it could give me the career I was looking for. Now I can’t wait for the next steps.

“I never imagined I would win an award. When they read out my name there was definitely a moment of shock. It’s still not sunk in.”

Lily added that the University of Leicester had enabled her to complete her course while keeping up her passion for sport.

Also in the shortlist for an award was Amy Walker for Outstanding Contribution to Student Affairs and the course itself which was nominated for Best Student Experience for the Leicester model of Mental Health Simulation.

Jenna Shaw, Head of Nursing at the University of Leicester, said: "As Head of Nursing, I couldn’t be prouder of our students and nominations at the Student Nursing Times Awards. To be shortlisted from over 700 student nominations and make it all the way to London is an incredible achievement, and a real testament to their hard work, passion, and dedication. 

“This recognition shines a light on the strength of our nursing program and, more importantly, the outstanding nurse leaders we are nurturing. For Daud and Lily, this is an especially remarkable milestone, reflecting not only their exceptional commitment but also the positive difference they are already making in the lives of others. I am truly delighted to celebrate each of them and all they represent for the future of nursing."