Final year student wins two Kent Student Awards for contribution to Kent Law Campaign

Final year LLB student Billy Yu Lok Ng has won two Kent Student Awards for his substantial and long-running contribution to the Kent Law Campaign, receiving the Outstanding Fundraiser of the Year Award and the coveted Chancellor’s Employability Points Award at a gala dinner at the University’s Canterbury campus on Friday 8 May.

The Kent Student Awards celebrate outstanding extracurricular student achievement. Winners in each category receive a cash prize of £400, and recognition for the positive contribution they have made to the University, with judges looking for students that have made a difference to people, communities or environments through dedication, innovation, understanding or skill.

The Chancellor’s Employability Points Award recognises a student who has made an outstanding contribution to a University initiative, while participating in the Employability Points Scheme. Billy won for “tirelessly campaigning and fundraising for a new Kent Law Clinic on the University’s Canterbury campus”.

The Outstanding Fundraiser of the Year award recognises students who generously devote their time to fundraising, making a real difference for their societies or organisations in the local community.Billy won for “organising and taking part in loads of fundraising activities for the Kent Law Campaign”.

In a post on Facebook, Billy wrote: “Utterly absolutely honoured to have won the Kent Student Awards 2015. I would like to humbly share the awards with the Manager of the Kent Law Campaign Anna Pollard for nominating me and for giving me so many opportunities. Thank you the Judging Panel for having me this year. I am nothing but grateful for the fantastic journey the University of Kent and the Kent Law School had given me.”

Last year, Billy was awarded joint 2nd prize for ‘Outstanding International/Multicultural Initiative of the Year’ at the first ever Kent Student Awards ceremony (June 2014). He was recognised for his contribution to the international student experience through volunteering, fundraising and representing students.

The Kent Law Campaign is raising funds to build a bigger home for the Kent Law Clinic and a new Moot Court, both part of Kent Law School. The award-winning Kent Law Clinic involves staff, students and over 40 volunteer solicitors and barristers in private practice locally. The Clinic provides free legal advice and representation to those in the community who need but cannot afford that service, and teaches and inspires the students who participate under supervision in providing this public service, developing their practical understanding with law in a rich social context.

The Kent Law Campaign Student Group have been instrumental in the campaign’s success, galvanising student engagement with the project, and raising thousands of pounds for the development of the new building, construction of which is now underway. The Chair of the Kent Law Campaign Student Group in 2014, Emily Smith, received the Chancellor’s Prize for her work on behalf of the campaign at the Employability Points Scheme Reward Ceremony last year.