Platinum Award Winners: Over 500 Hours
| Basketball Club | Stewart Morgan |
| Boat Club | Georgy Borisochev |
| Cheerleading Club | Claire McGovern |
| Dance Club | Hannah Wildsmith |
| Fencing Club | Benedikt Schuessler |
| Netball Club | Alice Tilly |
| Rugby Club | Grant Salisbury |
| Squash Club | Ben Graham |
Stewart Morgan
Sport Union Experience: 17/18 Basketball Treasurer, 18/19 & 19/20 Basketball President, 18/19 SU Event Ambassador, 20/21 SU Lead Health & Wellbeing Ambassador, 20/21 Basketball Club Community Officer.
The Sports Union has been a staple experience throughout my 5 years at Heriot-Watt University. After my first year, I was keen to get involved with my beloved basketball club as part of the committee and enhance my CV. It soon became a real passion of mine to give back to the club and Sports Union as I was quick to realise sport is so much more than a physical activity. It’s a lifestyle and escape from the everyday University stress. The Watt family is a home away from home and being a part of offering an exceptional experience to other students has undoubtedly left me with my most memorable moments throughout University.”
Georgy Borisochev
Sport Union Experience: 16/17 & 17/18 Boat Club Equipment Manager, 20/21 Boat Club Secretary.
“I have been involved with Sports Union and Boat Club in particular for the last eight years, making incredible memories and forging strong friendships along the way. It was only natural that I decided to pay back the favour by volunteering for the club, aiming to provide the same level of experience for new members as I once received. Only time will tell if my efforts were successful, but it has been an amazing journey regardless and one of the biggest highlights of my university life.“
Claire McGovern
Sport Union Experience: 17/18 Cheerleading Club Secretary, 18/19 Cheerleading Club Vice-President & Assistant Coach, 19/20 Cheerleading Club President & Assistant Coach, 20/21 Cheerleading Club Head Coach.
“My volunteering experience with the Sports Union has been fantastic, I have learned so many new skills and met some of the most amazing people I now get to call my best friends! My responsibilities taught me time management, communication skills and have given me so much confidence! Overall, I am so thankful that I have been given so many opportunities throughout my time at University and I wouldn’t change a thing about my experience!“
Hannah Wildsmith
Sport Union Experience: 17/18 Dance Highland Captain, 18/19 Dance Club Treasurer, 19/20 Dance Ballet Captain & SU Event Ambassador, 20/21 Dance Club President & SU Equality & Diversity Lead Ambassador & SU Intern.
“For me, University would not have been the same without the Sports Union. Since taking on a captain role in my first year, I have loved being part of the Dance Committee even more every year! Even though there is lots of work involved, I have loved the challenge and break from coursework deadlines. Encouraging freshers to get involved has definitely been so rewarding. Not only has being involved in the Sports Union been great for my personal development and CV, but I’ve also made so many lifelong friends. All I can say is try and get involved as much as possible, you won’t regret it!“
Benedikt Schuessler
Sport Union Experience: 18/19 Fencing Club Captain, 19/20 Fencing Club VP, 20/21 Fencing Club President, 2018 to 2021 Fencing Club Coach
“Having fenced for over fifteen years, when coming to University I wanted to share my experience with other students and show how amazing this sport is. As a result, I got my coaching license and been coaching ever since. In addition, I further progressed into organising events and revitalising the club as part of the committee. One of the biggest achievements of the club in recent years was to achieve Watt-Mark Gold which only goes to show how much work the entire committee has put in. But all this wouldn’t have been possible without the great help of the Sports Union who has been an amazing job adapting to not only Covid but the individual needs of clubs. All in all I feel privileged to have gotten the opportunity to be part of the Watt Family.
I would like to thank the Fencing Club Committee as well as Ewan, Eliska and Matthew. Furthermore, a big thank you to Kev Milne who is the current head coach at the Fencing Club and has been a mentor to me and supported me every step of the way.“
Alice Tilly
Sports Union Experience: 19/20 Netball Club Social Secretary, 20/21 Netball Club Treasurer, 20/21 SU Promotion & Marketing Executive Officer, Incoming SU Vice-President & Netball Club Treasurer.
“When I joined Netball in first year, it was predominately to meet new people and stay fit – I never imagined how much I would get involved and I certainly never realised how much it could positively impact my uni experience. Being part of the SU is more than joining a sports club and I am so grateful for the opportunities that have opened themselves up to me from getting involved. I have met some truly remarkable people and the family environment that the SU establishes through different clubs, the Ambassador Programme and Shanghai Wednesdays is what makes being a keen bean volunteer such an amazing experience.“
Grant Salisbury
Sports Union Experience: 18/19 & 20/21 SU Ambassador, 19/20 SU Health & Wellbeing Executive Officer & Rugby Club Social Media Officer & Rugby Men’s 2nd Team Captain, 20/21 Rugby Women’s Coach.
“Volunteering and being involved with the sports union has been the highlight of my university experience. Volunteering has allowed me to encourage new students to become involved with sport at university, promote positive wellbeing and challenging the stigma around mental health as an executive and become a more involved member of my own club.
Taking on these roles and getting involved in sport allowed me to meet so many different people, some of which I now consider my closest friends. As important as obtaining your degree is, getting involved with the sports union has supplied me with extra CV material and great content to discuss in scenario-based interview questions. I could not recommend taking on these volunteering roles alongside your studies enough!“
Ben Graham
Sports Union Experience: 17/18 Squash Club Night Volunteer & Social Secretary, 18/19 Squash Club President & SU Promotions & Marketing Executive Officer, 19/20 Sports Union President, 20/21 SU Ambassador & Squash Club Coordinator.
“Many people won’t come to University understanding the benefit sport will have on their student experience, and many may leave without truly appreciating how good it has been. From the moment I arrived for my first tour of Oriam, the energy of the yellow shirted tour guides had a profound impact.
When I became Sports Union President I was involved in the recruitment for the ambassador teams and realised I was not the only one who had this experience. The power of a small gesture in welcoming new students to the Watt Family is compounded by the influence that these students will have on the next intake of students, allowing them too to maximise their University experience through the social, mental and physical benefits as well as personal development you gain from joining a sports club and taking on a volunteer opportunity. No amount of academic groupwork will provide you with as much job interview material as being involved in your sports club, and you get to provide life changing experiences for your peers along the way!“
We are very lucky to have the following people continuing to volunteer for the Sports Union after already recieving their Platinum Awards in previous years!
| Basketball Club | Alistair McDermid |
| Boat Club | Emily Louise Kidd |
| Boxing Club | Blake Shepard |
| Netball Club, Basketball Club | Annie Rebecca Robinson |
| Swimming Club | Jamie Murray |
Gold Plus Award Winners: Over 350 Hours
| Cheerleading Club | Beki West |
| Cricket Club, Hockey Club, Tennis Club | Kit McCrystal |
| Dance Club | Maria Glaria |
| Equestrian Club | Gavin Thomas Mackay |
| Hockey Club | Rory Saunders |
| Kayak Club | Glenn Jakob Bodholdt Jessen |
| Swimming Club | Jessica Maciver |
| Swimming Club | Annie Nicol |
Gold Award Winners: Over 200 Hours
| Athletics Club | Duncan James Cameron |
| Badminton Club, Squash Club | Sophie Dudley |
| Basketball Club | Victoria Laila Neill |
| Basketball Club | Euan Stewart |
| Boat Club | Anna Grace Cubitt |
| Boat Club | Grace Osborne |
| Cheerleading Club | Amelia Ellen Stott |
| Cycling Club | Dillon Thomson |
| Dance Club | Maryam Gough |
| Dance Club | Ruth Kowbel |
| Dance Club | Sarah McCormack |
| Dance Club | Hope Logan Reilly |
| Dance Club | Elizabeth Thom |
| Dance Club | Rachael Young |
| Equestrian Club | Elizabeth Eyre |
| Equestrian Club | Kayla Macleod |
| Equestrian Club, Boat Club | Harrison Grange |
| Football Club | Anne Murrie |
| Football Club, Table Tennis Club | Dan Potter |
| Hockey Club | Ellie Kemsley |
| Mountaineering Club | Lyle Macintosh |
| Netball Club | Victoria Foster |
| Snowsports Club | Calum Shepherd |
| Table Tennis Club | Glenn Hughes |
| Volleyball Club | Devon May |
| Volleyball Club | Craig Murray |
| Volleyball Club, Rugby Club | Calum Macpherson |
Silver Award Winners: Over 100 Hours
| American Football Club | Theodore Harrison-Drummond |
| American Football Club, Volleyball Club | Fergus Syme |
| Badminton Club | Ruairidh Gordon |
| Basketball Club | Carla Pinkney |
| Boxing Club | Joel Meggs |
| Cycling Club | Harry Brockman |
| Dance Club | Beth Murray |
| Dance Club | Alina Pahl |
| Dance Club | Erin Livingstone |
| Equestrian Club | Harriot Clarke |
| Equestrian Club | Megan Mallon |
| Football Club | Aonghus Sellar |
| Kayak Club | Joseph Mowatt |
| Kayak Club, Handball Club | Samuel Hardman |
| Mountaineering Club | Finlay Clarke |
| Netball Club | Chloe Alexander |
| Netball Club | Ellen Shore |
| Rugby Club | Finlay John Belfield |
| Snowsports Club | Jack Tong |
| Snowsports Club | Hope Woolard |
| Swimming Club | Adam Hewitt |
| Tennis Club | Yasmin Booth |
| Ultimate Frisbee Club | Fiia Elina Ristioja |
| Volleyball Club | Cameron Cumming |
| Volleyball Club | Luize Luse |
Bronze Award Winners: Over 50 Hours
| American Football Club | Tom McDonald |
| Athletics Club | Fiona Mcarthur |
| Badminton Club, Netball Club | Alex Chan-Taylor |
| Basketball Club | Gregor Morgan |
| Boxing Club | Clara Maccarini |
| Cheerleading Club | Cat Gluyas |
| Cheerleading Club | Jade Vincent Borde |
| Dance Club | Hope Christie |
| Dance Club | Erin Ingram |
| Dance Club | Nikole Maliavskaja |
| Fencing Club | Chloe Fielding |
| Futsal Club | Eoghan Turkington |
| Handball Club | Eva Sivers-Stewart |
| Hockey Club | Ronan Kingsbury |
| Hockey Club | Gregor Lamont |
| Kayak Club | Heather Holligan |
| Kayak Club | Isla Kelly |
| Kayak Club | Lewis Adam MacGillivray |
| Kayak Club | Katie Pike |
| Netball Club | Majenta Montague |
| Snowsports Club | Ruaridh Mollica |
| Swimming Club | Isaac Fillingham |
| Swimming Club | Amy Kerr |
| Swimming Club | Eve Short |
| Tennis Club | Alexander Moreno Avgherinos |
| Tennis Club | Jay McMillan |
| Tennis Club | Rachel Schulberg |
| Volleyball Club | Talitha Barros |
| Volleyball Club | Fraser Glass |