Rebekah has edge to win coveted award

Law and Criminology graduate Rebekah Deacon won the coveted award, sponsored by Citi, which recognises exceptional commitment to personal and professional development.

Rebekah was chosen as the overall prize winner for her passion, enthusiasm and strong work ethic in and out of the lecture theatre.

The Ulster University EDGE Award focuses on the development of personal and professional skills for students, equipping them to fulfil their career ambitions as confident, skilled graduates that can help employers shape the future of their business or profession.

To win the award Rebekah first had to gain an Excel Award.

She was one of 53 Ulster University students to achieve this, with all of them passing a written application before being invited to an employer-led interview panel.

Competition was fierce and the standards of the applicants extremely high with the panel recommending Rebekah as student of the year.

Rebekah received certificates for ‘EDGE Excel Award Student of the Year’ and an EDGE Excel certificate plus £200 in Amazon vouchers, sponsored by Citi.

Delighted to win the award, she believes it will enhance her future employment prospects.

She said: “I signed up for the EDGE Award in my first year as I realised some of the activities I was participating in were counted towards it anyway, then by second year I realised I had four activities and with another year left,

“I decided to push for the Excel Award.”

She continued: “I believe completing this Award will help me in my future career because I can prove to employers I have skills that they want.

“For example, I took part in the student retention programme and class rep, which involved working independently and as part of a team and using problem solving skills. As well as this I took PASS which shows initiative and leadership skills.”