Memorial prize in honour of nursing student

Nursing lecturers at Glyndŵr University have paid tribute to a dedicated student who died just 19 months into her degree course by awarding a prize in her name.

Sylvia Crowe, of Tan-y-fron, Wrexham, was studying on the University’s BN (Hons) nursing programme when she lost her battle with a short illness in November 2007.

In honour of Sylvia’s passion for and commitment to nursing, staff established the Sylvia Crowe Memorial Prize for the most recent cohort of nursing graduates, who would have shared their celebrations with her.

Pam Hope, Subject Leader for Health Studies at Glyndŵr University, said: “Sylvia very much wanted to be a nurse. She battled adversity for a place on the programme and really wanted to complete her studies.

"Sylvia fought very hard for what she believed in and it is this dedication and commitment to becoming a nurse which we honour.”

Gill Campbell, Senior Lecturer in Nursing, was Sylvia’s personal tutor. She said “For many of our students it was the first time that they’d lost a friend and Sylvia’s death came as a big shock to them all.

"We wanted to remember her with a prize for a student who shared Sylvia’s dedication and commitment to nursing.”

The first Sylvia Crowe Memorial Prize was awarded to Mark Quilter, of Abergele, who studied BN (Hons) Nursing Adult Specialism.

“Collecting the prize brought on a real rollercoaster of emotions, with the happiness of graduating but the sadness of remembering a friend,” said Mark, who works in the Acute Medical Unit at Glan Clwyd hospital.

Pam said Mark shared the same passion for nursing as Sylvia and stood out from all of the University’s nursing students when it came to awarding the prize.

She added: “Mark was an obvious choice. He’s very much a team player, a natural leader but someone who leads by example and was an inspiration to his fellow students and to the teaching staff.”

Mark said: “It’s great to be recognised through this award and being said to be an inspiration to the whole group has made me really proud and given me an extra boost of confidence.”

Mark, who worked as a children’s entertainer before deciding to train as a nurse three years ago, hopes to go on to take specialist qualifications to work as a district nurse in future.