A FORMER west Dorset student has been awarded and praised for going above and beyond at university.

Cecilia Bawden attended the Woodroffe School in Lyme Regis before undertaking a health and social care BTEC after A levels. She is now studying a BA Hons midwifery degree at Bournemouth University.

She was awarded the ‘Star Student’ award at the Rockstar Awards 2019, which celebrates young and inspirational people aged between 16 and 26 who go above and beyond.

The award is given to students who have made strong academic progress and are either involved in charitable extra-curricular activities or have excelled despite the odds not always being in their favour. It recognises the great achievements of students.

Cecilia said: “Winning the ‘Student Star’ award is a huge achievement but obviously pales in comparison to all the work leading up to it.

“As president of the Midwifery Society and health and safety officer of the UBT Society (Uni Boob Team working in conjunction with the CoppaFeel charity to promote awareness of breast cancer), I have organised and hosted events ranging from training in facilitating breech birth to fundraising for Group B Strep Support (which works to stop group b Strep infection in babies).

“The last three years have thrown unimaginable challenges in my path but I have taken every extra-curricular activity available to me, been nominated to represent the south west on the Royal College of Midwives’ Student Midwife Forum, to participate in the Council of Dean’s Student Leadership Programme, hosted teaching sessions for the first year student midwives and continued achieving my target grades in my assessments.

“The ‘Student Star’ award has given me more motivation to continue helping others and furthering my own education.

“I can’t wait to see what opportunities continued interaction with the other award winners will bring.”