The Norah Isaac Memorial Award 2024 winner announced

The University of Wales Trinity Saint David has announced that the winner of the Norah Isaac Award 2024 is Lisa Evans, a BA Primary Education with QTS student from Lampeter.

The Norah Isaac Memorial Award is awarded to the student who, in the University’s opinion, has contributed most to the institution’s Welsh life during the academic year.

Norah Jones was the main Drama and Welsh Lecturer at Trinity College Carmarthen for many years where she inspired generations of students. She nurtured cohort after cohort of students to become skilled teachers and they in turn thanked her for the opportunity they were given to learn at the feet of a master.      

With support from, and generosity of, Carmarthen’s Civic Society, it has been arranged that Lisa will receive her award on the Carmarthen campus during the graduation ceremonies.

Meryl Bowen, Initial Teacher Education Lecturer at UWTSD, said:

 “Lisa’s passion and enthusiasm, as a student on the BA Primary Education with QTS, for all things Welsh has been an inspiration to her peers across the University over the past three years.

 “As President of the Welsh Society she was an excellent ambassador promoting the Welsh language and Welshness, and she has worked diligently to ensure the continuation of the Society and recognises the importance of its existence to the University. She encouraged students to join the variety of activities the University offers, and to take advantage of every single opportunity.

 “She also worked diligently to arrange training sessions and social activities in the Society’s name, through the medium of Welsh or bilingually. She demonstrated excellent organisational skills when she organised a trip to Ireland to the Six Nations Championship and collaborated tirelessly with her peers to take part in the Inter-collegiate Eisteddfod.

 “During her successful professional teaching experience, she tried to raise the Welsh language standards of the young learners in her care. In addition to the requirements of her course, she studied for the Coleg Cymraeg Cenedlaethol’s Welsh Language Skills Certificate exam.

Lisa said:

 “It is a privilege and an honour to receive the Norah Isaac memorial award, the Welsh language is ever so important to me, and having the opportunity to promote the Welsh language on the Carmarthen campus has been an experience I’ll never forget by taking hold of the Welsh Society and making it a strong society for the future”.

Lisa hopes to teach for a year after she graduates, and the return to the University to undertake a Diploma to become a children’s counsellor.

Councillor Peter Hughes Griffiths from Carmarthen Civic Society added,

 “On behalf of Carmarthen’s Civic Society, it is a pleasure to congratulate Lisa Evans for winning this year’s Norah Isaac Memorial Award. This annual award given to appreciate a student’s contribution for their work promoting the Welsh language is so important as we remember Norah Isaac and everything she did in this field”.