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The Welcome & Induction Team are delighted to announce the winners of the Transition Mentor Programme Awards 2024/25.
The Welcome & Induction Team were delighted to host the third annual Transition Mentor Programme Awards at Bidborough House, to celebrate the outstanding contributions from the UCL Transition and Senior Mentors. The awards recognise mentors’ dedication to supporting first-year students as part of the Transition Mentor Programme.
The Transition Mentor Programme provides first-year undergraduate students with a Transition Mentor, a second- or third-year student from the same degree programme. Transition Mentors support a small group of first-year students throughout Term One. Through weekly sessions, Transition Mentors provide guidance and support on various topics, such as accessing support services and preparing for first assessments, helping first-year students settle into university life.
Senior Mentors play a key role in supporting the programme by overseeing groups of Transition Mentors within their department. They provide guidance to mentors, organise a department session and social event and provide administrative support to the Transition Team, contributing to the success of the programme.
This year’s awards saw hundreds of outstanding nominations for both Transition and Senior Mentors. After careful consideration from the judging panel, we are delighted to announce the winners for 2024.
Transition Mentor Award Winners 2024
Transition Mentor of the Year: Euan Toh Yu-Yuan - Euan consistently went above and beyond to support his mentor group. His focus on inclusivity, ensuring accessible rooms and offering flexibility, made every session feel welcoming. His dedication to not just academic advice, but also career-building, wellbeing, and making everyone feel included, made a positive impact on his mentees. Euan was always approachable, making time to check in on both academic and personal wellbeing. He fostered a supportive environment where everyone felt heard, addressing any questions with patience and clarity.
The Above & Beyond Award: Niki Callista Tanamal - Niki provided tailored study guides, checklists, and tips to support her mentees during assessments, while also proactively addressing concerns. Niki’s friendly nature and well-prepared sessions created a welcoming atmosphere, making the transition to university smoother and more enjoyable for her group.
The Wellbeing Warrior Award: Ariel Aeng - Ariel has been a supportive and approachable mentor, always emphasising the importance of balancing wellness and academics. She shared personal experiences and offered practical advice, especially for students dealing with wellbeing challenges. Ariel’s open, genuine attitude and detailed follow-ups made a lasting impact, ensuring everyone felt supported.
The Unsung Hero Award: Fareedah Oyekan - Fareedah provided exceptional support to her mentor group at UCL East with warmth, energy, and practical advice. She drew on her own experiences to help students navigate the complexities of a transdisciplinary programme and make the most of studying on a modern campus. Her enthusiasm, dedication and genuine care made her sessions engaging and memorable.
The Innovation & Creativity Award: Hanzade Durmusoglu - Hanzade’s creativity shone through in her thoughtful approach to mentoring, from introducing her mentees to UCL societies to curating tailored resources for law students. Her weekly meetings were engaging, often extending beyond expectations with activities like food tours and top London recommendations. Hanzade’s dedication, enthusiasm, and innovative approach was highly commendable.
Senior Mentor Award Winners 2024
The Administrative Excellence Award: Nur Alya Batrisyah Binti Noor Iskandar - Alya demonstrated exceptional organisational skills and leadership in coordinating both the ‘Meet Your Mentor’ session and the department social, giving thoughtful attention to detail which helped to improve the events for mentors and mentees. She proactively sought out feedback and implemented measures to boost mentee participation in the programme, whilst also quickly and efficiently supporting mentors with queries.
Senior Mentor of the Year: Charlie Gutteridge - Charlie demonstrated exceptional leadership and organisational skills throughout the programme. He successfully organised a well-received department social, ensuring everything ran smoothly from start to finish. His responsiveness and support to mentors was prompt and effective, and he showed unwavering dedication in addressing all mentor queries and concerns. Charlie ensured administrative tasks were completed a keen attention to detail on administrative tasks, he managed competing responsibilities effectively, ensuring all mentors received the support they needed.
Senior Mentor Award Honourable Mentions 2024
Senior Mentor of the Year, Honourable Mention: Yvonne Minh Uyen Tran - Yvonne has excelled as a Senior Mentor, from organising the well-attended ‘meet your mentor’ session to planning an engaging department social with a scavenger hunt. Her prompt support, thoughtful recognition of her mentors, and tailored advice helped to ensure a successful programme.
Administrative Excellence Award, Honourable Mention: Farzana Chowdhury - Farzana consistently provided clear, helpful updates to her mentors, quickly addressing any concerns and offering both practical advice and personal support. Farzana regularly recognised and celebrated her Transition Mentors’ achievements.
All winners, finalists and nominees have shown an outstanding commitment to UCL and the Transition Mentor Programme. By celebrating the achievements of our Transition and Senior Mentors, we hope to not only acknowledge their dedication to their positions but also highlight the important role of mentors in the transition for students joining UCL.
For more information about the Transition Mentor Programme, please contact the Transition Team or visit the website.
Applications for the Transition Mentor Programme 2025/26 will open in Spring 2025. If you are an undergraduate student studying at UCL in Autumn 2025, you can register your interest to be contacted when applications open.