WOHAA 2014 Award Ceremony: Class of 2014 ‘Going for Gold’

On 2nd May 2014, the most anticipated day of the WOHAA calendar arrived! Over 500 participants, teachers, parents, friends and family descended on the Royal College of Surgeons in Holborn to celebrate their WOHAA achievements in style. The theme this year was ‘Going for Gold’ and students were encouraged to dress up as ‘winners’, channelling their sporting, acting and academic heroes for the chance to win the coveted ‘Best Dressed’ prize. The evening began with a performance from the world famous Pineapple Dancers who got the crowd ready and raring to go with a performance full of energy and electricity.

Performances from Joseph Hamm of Dulwich College and Abhinav Vudathu from Queen Elizabeth’s Boys also had the crowd entranced.

Upcoming singer-songwriter Cally Rhodes closed down the evening with an incredible performance, getting the crowd hyped up with her covers of Taylor Swift’s ‘I knew you were trouble’ and One Direction’s ‘Midnight Memories’.

Lara Lewington, BBC Presenter and reporter for technology programme ‘Click’, presided over the evening, helping to get the crowd enthused and to oversee the smooth running of presentations. We were very lucky to have an esteemed set of presenters to hand over the awards, including Bernard Sande, Malawian High Commissioner, Jackie Cooper (Global Chair of PR Company Edelman) and The Mayor of the London Borough of Sutton, Councillor Sean Brennan.

The evening was held the celebrate the achievements of WOHAA participants over the last year. Awards were handed out in six student categories and one teacher category, with students vying for prizes from Best Presentation to Most Awareness Raised and for Overall Winner and the chance to visit the Wings of Hope school in India. Students made full use of the WOHAA Selfie Corner, taking graduation shots with mortar boards and with masks of famous people. They also signed the ‘GIANT WOHAA’, adding their names to the WOHAA legacy

Awards were handed out to the following teams in the various categories:

BEST PRESENTATION:

Runners-Up:

Heros – Newstead Wood School
L & Co – Queen Anne’s School

Winner:

Summit – Latymer Upper School

MOST AWARENESS RAISED

Runners-Up:

Live2Learn – Woodbridge High School
WOHAA Warriors – Bentley Wood and Claremont High School

WINNER:

Team Fuse – North London Collegiate, Heathfield School, Upton Court Grammar School and St Helen’s School

MOST FUNDS RAISED:

Runners Up:

WOHAA Angels – Surbiton High School
Mini Monets – Notting Hill and Ealing High School

WINNER:

Team Reach – Merchant Taylor’s School

SPEAK OUT

Runner Up:

Connect 6 – Hasmonean High School (Girls)

WINNER:

Team IGNITE – Claremont High School

BEST TEACHER:

Special recognition:

Ian Smith – Surbiton High School
Simon Dodd – Surbiton High School

Best Teacher Winner:

Kathryn Walley – Heathfield School

MOST INNOVATE

Runners Up:

Team Utopia – The Abbey School
Wirral Wonders – West Kirby Grammar School

WINNER:

Team STEP – Collingwood College

OVERALL RUNNERS UP

e-LEMON-ators – Heathfield School, Henrietta Barnett School, Beaconsfield High School and Richmond upon Thames College

OVERALL WINNERS

Young Volcanoes – Nonsuch High School and Greeancres High School

Testimonials

What a wonderful and brilliant trip. Deepika still talks about it all the time and reflects back fondly of the trip with plans to do more in future. It would have been impossible for her to have h — Malavi and Kumanan Deepika's parents Wohaa winner 2013-14
You made everyone feel so welcome and it really was a very enjoyable evening. We are now all very excited about our fundraising for next year. — Natalie Hodgson, Year 9 Student Manager, St Mary's High School
I was very impressed by the event at the House of Lords. I think you have made a major breakthrough in getting such a high level of engagement from UK schools. — Sir Richard Stagg – Ex - High Commissioner to India
It is always so uplifting and encouraging to see the students representing their age group in such a positive and enriching fashion. They all deserve an award! The event goes from strength to strengt — Sir David Jason
Thank you so much for this wonderful opportunity. We had a blast!! — Lily Maya (in response to December 2014 trip to Robinson College, Cambridge)
It was a great pleasure to see such fantastic talent at the WOHAA semi-finals and the WOHAA Award Ceremony, well done for this wonderful vision!’ — Baroness Verma, House of Lords
It was a truly inspirational evening and a pleasure to hear about the work and success of so many young people. We were, of course, delighted that Surbiton High School pupils were recognised for their — Ann Haydon, Principal, Surbiton High School
Dear Rajni, congratulations to the school. Worthy winners amongst many very deserving candidates. Best wishes. — Baroness Verma
It was great fun and very useful — Jade (in response to December 2014 trip to Robinson College, Cambridge)
I would recommend WOHAA to anyone I have met because it is a great privilege to assist in a charity while helping those less fortunate than ourselves. — Bianca, Student at Norbury Manor Business and Enterprise College
Well done for another fantastic event. You could see that the students were keen to soak up all they could in the time available, and lots of smiles all round – a good sign! — Linzi - Law Mentor, WOHAA Speed Mentoring
‘It was really good, made me less worried about applying' ‘very informative trip' ‘great and informative!' ‘very interesting and insightful to life and cambridge' ‘pleasant and new experie — (in response to December 2014 trip to Robinson College, Cambridge)
Thanks so much and congratulations for putting on such a great event. Already looking forward to the next one — Carl - Investment Banking Mentor, WOHAA Speed Mentoring
Thank you for your message of 12th June and the link of your awards program which I went through. As always wishing you and Wings of Hope all the very best. — Dr. Yusuf Hamied, Chairman - Cipla
I learnt a lot from the WOHAA experience, it was a sort-of different experience. It was a challenge where I learnt about myself more than anything. I learnt how to adapt many different roles in order — Suman D. (Villiers School)
I can not thank you enough for choosing Team Unity as your WOHAA winner! we put our heart and soul in to your absolutely amazing charity and we are so so pleased all our hard work has paid off! — Tsiona – Hasmonean School for Girls
It has been a pleasure and a privilege for Hasmonean to work with you on this project and we look forward to our continued relationship in the future. — Rachel – Headteacher at Hasmonean Girls' High School
For my part, I was, as always, very impressed by the commitment, ingenuity and enthusiasm of the young people involved. WOHAA is indeed a two way street, with real benefits for those who receive the h — Lord McNally, Chair of Youth Justice Board, (Regular WOHAA panellist)
I would just like to say thank you for everything both you and Mr Sriram have offered me through the Wings of Hope program. The Award has given me experiences and skills, I just couldn't learn — Athishan Vithivet Pillai, Merchant Taylor School
Thank you for the great opportunity to look around Cambridge and Robinson College, we really enjoyed it — Ambika (in response to December 2014 trip to Robinson College, Cambridge)
I just wanted to say a huge thank you for a truly unforgettable trip ---the memories, the kindness and the goodness of the children and everyone we met I will never forget. I am happy to help you — Lv Lauren - Overall winner 2013-14
Over the course of the last five years, we as a school, have offered WOHAA to our students across different year groups. As Vice Principal, I am delighted to partner with WOHAA. This year as WOHAA c — Mr. Ian Smith, Vice Principal, Surbiton High School
For me CV writing and interview skills were the most useful part of the workshop and I feel as though I came away with a lot of new, valuable information to take into account when writing my own CV. — Emily from Langley Park School for Girls
Dear Rajni, congratulations to the school of the winning Team. Worthy winners amongst many very deserving candidates. Best wishes. — Baroness Verma
Thank you Janelle for organising such a fantastic opportunity for our girls. I know Sara found it such an interesting and valuable experience. Best wishes — Debbie - Sara's mum, Hasmonean Girls' High School
Thanks once again for letting me be part of your brilliant initiative. The entries and the teams continue to inspire! — Jackie Cooper- Global Creative Chair of Edelman PR (Regular WOHAA panellist)
It was a pleasure to meet you and inspiring to hear stories of the ways in which the project has motivated young people to raise money for charity and work as a team to initiate and run different acti — Miriam – Teacher – Dulwich College
I absolutely enjoyed spending time listening to the kids. They are an inspiration. — Nupur Mallick, HR Head UK & Ireland, Tata Consultancy Services Ltd. (WOHAA 2015-16 panellist)
My time at Tata was a memorable experience; I was lucky enough to shadow the consultancy team and met many clients such as the COO of Aviva and a director from Barclays wealth. — Akshay Dhamecha
It's a fantastic initiative & it was an honour to be with such distinguished supporters of the charity at the semi-finals & an even greater honour to see the work of the young members of our community — Clarke Carlisle, Chairman, Professional Footballers' Association.
The WOHAA challenge is an excellent one and does uncover true leaders and team-workers. Keep in touch. And good luck to you and a great organization — Dr. Joe Spence, Master Dulwich College
WOHAA is one of the best external projects we have brought into the school. It is truly beloved by staff, students and parents alike as it broadens the horizons of our girls who would otherwise not g — Mrs Rachel Fink, Head Teacher, (Girls' School) Hasmonean High School
I would just like to thank you coming into our school to talk to us about WOHAA. I have enjoyed the project thoroughly & I was wondering if there is any other way I can volunteer for Wings of Hope. — Yumna, Student at Valentines High School
We had a wonderful time last night and the children so enjoyed the experience. Obviously the icing on the cake was the winning of the award for runners up ‘Best Presentation’. — Mrs. Green – Year 9 Manager at Collingwood College
It was a pleasure and very inspiring and exceptional talent on display. Thank you for having me as part of this wonderful charity and a real honour. — Tunji Akintokun, Director at Cisco, (WOHAA 2015-16 Panellist)
India was a fantastic experience – one which I will never forget. I recommend WOHAA to all students because a trip to India is the biggest motivation. — Anna, 2013 Winner
Our WOHAA journey has opened our eyes to the injustice in this world and shown us how students anywhere can really help the children who need it the most and how important it is to do so. — TEAM – FORTITUDE - LADY MARGARET SCHOOL
What a fantastic experience and I am delighted that the girls were excellent representatives of the school. They clearly gained a huge amount from being at Barclays. — Rachel – Headteacher at Hasmonean Girls' High School
Firstly, thank you so much for the last year - WOHAA has helped me to develop in many ways and I am extremely grateful for every opportunity you have sent my way. I am really keen to continue working — Serafina (Volunteer)
It was a pleasure helping to judge the Wings of Hope Finals. Not only are those involved an inspiring group of young people, but the wider cause is also one to which I am very happy to lend any suppor — Lady Elizabeth Roberts, Dean of Studies at the Weidenfeld Centre, Trinity College, Oxford (WOHAA 2015-16 panellist)