THE WORSHIPFUL COMPANY OF INFORMATION TECHNOLOGISTS
103rd Business Lunch, Wax Chandlers’ Hall, and
the Outstanding Information Technology Students Awards 2019
he WCIT’s 103rd Business Lunch
on 20th February, held in the
stunning Wax Chandlers’ Hall in
the City of London, also hosted the 2019
WCIT Outstanding Information
Technology Student Awards, which were
created to recognise outstanding IT
students within the UK. In doing so, we
hope to encourage students to pursue
careers in IT, to encourage an
entrepreneurial and charitable ethos
among those students, and, more
pragmatically, to give financial help to
students studying IT. Judging criteria
included academic excellence,
overcoming adversity, entrepreneurial
skills, and contribution to charity or
community.
Twelve universities selected a candidate
and provided a written citation in support
of their nomination. Of these, individuals
from five universities made the
competitive shortlist for the final:
the City of London Alderman and Sheriff,
Vincent Keaveny.
The overall winner, who received an
award of £1,000, was Rachel Lee
Mekhtieva, a final-year student from
Imperial College, London reading for a
joint degree in Mathematics and
Computing, and you can read the full
background to the winner HERE
The four other worthy finalists each
received an award of £250 towards their
continuing IT studies.
The students were presented with their
awards by City of London Alderman and
Sheriff Vincent Keaveny at the business
lunch, where the winning student herself
was the guest speaker, along with her
accompanying tutor, Dr Maria Valera-
Espina of Imperial College, London.
University of Bolton: Christine Banda
University of Hertfordshire:
Mitchelle Sanghvi
Rachel
receiving her
award from City
of London
Alderman and
Sheriff Vincent
Keaveny
WCIT Deputy Master, Dr Stefan Fafinski,
the instigator of these awards, said;
“Rachel ably demonstrated the
outstanding calibre of the entrants for this
award which goes from strength to
strength. By these awards, the WCIT is
not only investing in the future of the
industry, but also in its own future, by
raising awareness of its work among
talented young people who, we hope, will
go on to join us”.
Imperial College, London:
Rachel Lee Mekhtieva
Oxford University: Catherine Vlasov
Royal Holloway, University of London:
Chloe Houlihan
The judging panel included the WCIT’s
Master, Lady Parmley (Wendy), the
Master of The Worshipful Company of
Educators, Dr Lis Goodwin and
Rachel Lee Mekhtieva and Dr Maria
Valera-Espina as guest speakers
Rachel spoke confidently about her
perspectives of the industry and the
challenges that the future holds, before
taking questions from the floor.
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From Left: Dr Stefan Fafinski, WCIT Deputy Master; Christine Banda, Bolton; Mitchelle Sanghvi, Hertfordshire;
Catherine Vlasov, Oxford; Ray Long CB, WCIT Senior Warden; City of London Alderman and Sheriff Vincent Keaveny;
WCIT Master, Lady Parmley (Wendy); Paul Fullagar, WCIT Junior Warden; Rachel Lee Mekhtieva, Imperial;
Chloe Houlihan, Royal Holloway; Dr Lis Goodwin, Master Educator; and Susan E Hoefling, WCIT Clerk.