51Âþ»­

Outstanding performances on placements, a determination to make the most of industry projects and exceptional coursework were rewarded for some of 51Âþ»­ Leicester (51Âþ»­)’s newest graduates.

Awards were presented to postgraduate taught Master’s students from Leicester Castle Business School while representatives from Leicestershire Law Society and legal firms helped present prizes to graduates from Leicester De Montfort Law School.

Professor Khalid Hafeez, Associate Dean PG and Corporate at LCBS, said: “We are very proud of all our graduates, but especially of these students who have excelled. They were all nominated for these awards by their tutors who have recognised some exceptional work.”

Sonia Ganatra, MSc Digital Marketing graduate, has already landed a job working for Briggs of Burton, doing market research analysis for the process engineering company.

She said: “I came to 51Âþ»­ because there’s lots of opportunities and because it was one of the few courses which concentrated on digital marketing. My placement was wonderful as well, and I think that helped to set me apart in the interview for my current role.”

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Rikesh Valand, who graduated in MSc Global Finance and Investment, has secured a role working with a financial services company in Leicester, PSA Financial Services. During his studies, he completed an executive company project with Dubai company Zarius Properties helping them with a funding model.

He said: “I’m from Leicester and after I got a degree in Business Management and Finance decided to stay on and do a Master’s. I knew the lecturers and enjoyed it, although it is a lot of work in a year. The executive company project lets you work on with a company on an issue affecting them. I helped them develop a strategy for funding.”

Shugry Asker, who won best student performance for MA in International Relations, said: “I liked the interactive side of the course, there were a lot of debates. I’m hoping to work for the United Nations when I move back to Kenya.”

Legal Practice Course (LPC) graduate Sarah Hill was “very flattered, especially as a mature student” to win the Shakespeare Martineau Prize – Commercial Law Elective.

“I have a job training as a solicitor with Hayes + Storr in Norfolk,” she said. “It wasn’t easy to get, but I’m really enjoying it.”

Katie Harrison described winning the Nelsons Prize for the LPC stage one as a “nice shock” – especially as she didn’t plan a career in the field after graduating in Law from a different university.

“I started work in conveyancing and loved it, so I chose 51Âþ»­ for the LPC to enable me to become a solicitor because the course seemed the most flexible,” said Katie, who works for Graysons in Sheffield.

Neusha Mazaher from Leeds felt “really good” collecting the Irwin Mitchell LLP Prize for the Best Student on the LPC (part-time) alongside classmate Hannah Butler,
She said: “It’s about the journey. It’s about managing time and getting prep done. The course helped me secure a training contract with Southall Hathaway & Co in Leicester.”

FULL LIST OF PRIZES AWARDED

Musa Adebayo Obalola - best student performance, MSc Risk management
Sonia Ganatra – best student performance, MSc Strategic and Digital Marketing
Beth Astle, best student performance, MSc Advertising and PR
Kresimir Mikulandra, Ian Beardwell Award
Qiyue Zhang, best student performance, MSc Business Economics and Marketing
Berthwell Mukwaira, best student performance, MSc Business Economics and Management
Mazena Palevi, Best student performance, MSc Business Economics and International Relations
Cachel Hamilton, Andrew Darko, best student performance, MSc Business Economics and Business Finance
Aleksandra Czescik, best student performance, MSc Marketing Management
Runyao Li, best student performance, MSc International Business and Human Resource management
Levi Crisp, best student performance, MA Politics
Juhee Jain, best student performance, MSc Forensic Accounting
Awin Latif, CMI MBA Global student of the year
Thidaporn Wareenin, best student on MBA Global
Pattamon Rungmaitree, best student performance, MSc Banking and Finance
Rikesh Valand, best student performance, MSc Global Finance and Investment
David Martin, best student performance, MSc Business Management in Creative Industries
Paul Kaerger, best performance, MSc Business Management in Sport
Lauren Kemmy-Adani, best student performance, MA Diplomacy and World Order
Shugry Ashker, best student performance, MA International Relations
Ateeb Mian, best student performance, MSc International Relations and Marketing
Vishal Jain, best student performance, MSc International Business and Finance
Zaeem Abdulla Kannankandy, best student performance, MSc International Business and Entrepreneurship
Professional Skills Awards went to Ishaq Kasam, Renard Hanafi, Hanna Kryvionak, Amira Ezzat and Rikesh Valand

LEICESTER DE MONTFORT LAW SCHOOL
Irwin Mitchell LLP Prize, best student on Legal Practice Course (full time) – Fatima Baig
Irwin Mitchell LLP Prize, best student on Legal Practice Course (part time) – Hannah Butler and Neusha Mazaher
Freeths LLP – Legal Practice Course stage I (full time) – Laurie McAuley
Nelsons Prize – Legal Practice Course stage I (part time) – Katie Harrison
Leicestershire Law Society Prize – Legal Practice Course stage II (full time) – Jagdeesh Sangha
Leicestershire Law Society Prize – Legal Practice Course stage II (part time) – Natasha Bunclark
Gateley Plc Prize, Commercial Litigation Elective – James Kinnaird
The Henry and Karen Doyle Prize, Commercial Property Elective – Aaliyah Makda
Weightmans LLP Prize, Employment Law and Practice Elective – Jessica Mason
Weightmans LLP Prize, Personal injury and Clinical Negligence Elective – Rosie Gibson, Fatima Valli
Neil Head Memorial Prize, Sport and Media Elective – Emily Ablitt
Shakespeare Martineau Prize, Private Client Elective – Lauren Bailey
Shakespeare Martineau Prize, Commercial Law Elective – Sarah Hill
The Debs Evenden Memorial Prize for best student on the Family Law and Practice Elective – Janki Chotaliya
Thomson Reuters Law Prize for best student, graduate diploma in law (full time) – Sam Webb
CILEx Law School Prize, best student graduate diploma in law (part time) – Helen Howes