St Mary’s Student Wins National Sport Award

Student of St Mary’s University, Twickenham Claudia Burrough won the Dan Porter Award at the annual British University and Colleges Sports (BUCS) awards on 11th July.

The Dan Porter Award recognises an individual or group who have faced and overcome adversity or disadvantage to positively impact others within university sport and physical activity.

Claudia has had an impressive year, clocking up over 200 hours of voluntary work for the University’s recreational sports programme SIMMSactive, and served as president to two sports clubs and societies.

With SIMMSactive, she helped to organise sports activities for over 350 students and served as project manager for the annual Simmie Girls Can week to boost sports participation with women. Through her work as president of Ultimate Frisbee and of the No Ordinary Society, Claudia developed innovate new programmes and inspired participation in sport through both clubs.

The impact Claudia has had, through her many roles and speaking at a variety of conferences, on the students of St Mary’s is extraordinary, particularly for those requiring additional support or guidance; as a result Claudia was awarded the inaugural St Mary’s University Volunteer of the Year award.

Claudia was also shortlisted for the BUCS Volunteer of the Year Award whilst fellow St Mary’s student and Endurance Performance and Coaching Centre athlete Anna Moller was shortlisted for the BUCS Sportswoman of the year award.

Head of Sport, Andrew Reid-Smith said “Claudia has worked tirelessly and expertly on a range of sporting projects that are delivering real benefit and enjoyment for St Mary’s students.  She has helped develop opportunities for students that are supporting them to overcome challenges around their sporting participation and beyond. This reflects Dan’s sporting legacy, his amazing contribution to university sport and his charitable work to support people living with cancer; we are delighted that Claudia has received this very special award. ”