Magnusson Awards celebrate students driving global and local change

Glasgow Caledonian University has once again recognised the ambition, creativity and impact of its student changemakers through the 2025 Magnus Magnusson Awards, announced at a celebratory event on campus.

Established in 2007 in honour of the University’s founding Chancellor, the late Magnus Magnusson KBE, the annual awards enable students to turn their ideas into impactful projects − locally and globally. Now in their 18th year, the awards are made possible through the GCU Foundation and the generous support of donors including Sir Alex Ferguson CBE, Santander Universities, the Nicol family, Professor George and Dorothy Irving, and Elizabeth Hudson.

To date, more than 150 students have received awards to support projects that reflect the University’s mission for the Common Good.

This year’s event welcomed students, staff, donors and alumni, and included talks from previous winners Serign, Emily and Robbie, who shared the transformative impact of the awards on their personal and professional journeys.

Dr Sally Magnusson MBE FRSE, daughter of the late Chancellor, praised this year’s recipients: “My father greatly valued his time as Chancellor and was deeply committed to helping students unlock their full potential. This year’s winners have some truly remarkable ideas, and I’m confident they will use their awards to bring their projects to life. I eagerly look forward to hearing about their future achievements and wish them all the best in their endeavours.”

The 2025 Magnus Magnusson Award winners are:

Sir Alex Ferguson Magnusson Award – Lilandrea & Margaret
Lilandrea will use her award to purchase a professional Time Trial bike to help her compete at elite levels in Duathlon and Triathlon. She also plans to give back by launching a new Glasgow Caledonian Triathlon club, organising athlete and coach-led talks to inspire others.

Margaret’s award will support her blood cancer research project in partnership with AstraZeneca, helping her develop lab skills and experience for future academic and professional work. She will also engage in outreach activities, encouraging students in schools and colleges to pursue careers in science.

Mike Smith Magnusson Award – Sophie & Clare
Sophie and Clare, both media and journalism students, will create an innovative online music platform. The site will feature fresh content showcasing both mainstream and emerging artists, aiming to become a go-to destination for discovering new music talent.

Santander Universities Magnusson Award – Francis
Francis will apply his nursing education from Glasgow Caledonian to support Open Arms Malawi, a charity working with vulnerable children. His project focuses on healthcare support and community collaboration to build better futures for young people in Malawi.

Elizabeth Hudson Magnusson Award – Nayma
A national player for Scotland’s Women’s Cricket Team and a qualified Level 1 coach, Nayma will offer cricket coaching to girls at grassroots level. Her initiative is particularly focused on reaching those without access to coaching, especially from female role models in the sport.

Glasgow Caledonian Magnusson Award – Sophie
Sophie will work with partners in Ukraine to furnish and decorate a primary school’s bomb shelter, creating a safer and more comforting space for children affected by the war. Her project reflects a powerful commitment to wellbeing and resilience in crisis zones.

Nicol Family Magnusson Award – Jennifer
Jennifer, a student paramedic and trained first-aider, will launch a First Aid Training business built around a unique training model. Her idea stems from real-world challenges she observed while studying and working in emergency care.