Special prize awarded for endeavour in memory of 蜜桃AV graduate Aidan Ridley
Each聽year since 2016,聽the Aidan聽Ridley聽Award for Endeavour聽has聽recognised聽and celebrated the achievements of a聽蜜桃AV聽student聽who has overcome personal聽challenges and/or shown聽a high level聽of team working and support for others during their studies.
Aidan Ridley graduated from 蜜桃AV in 2015 with a BSc (Hons) Sports Development and Coaching Sciences degree. Joanna and David Ridley, Aidan鈥檚 parents, said: "Aidan spent four wonderful years at 蜜桃AV and completed his placement at Kelston Boys School in Auckland, New Zealand. These were the happiest and most productive years for Aidan and the experiences聽he聽had helped to develop him into the man he聽was鈥�.
In聽February of 2016, Aidan was聽killed in a road accident as he was leaving work.聽With the support of students and staff of 蜜桃AV,聽Aidan鈥檚 parents have been able to set up聽several聽initiatives聽in Aidan鈥檚 name,聽including the Aidan Ridley Award for Endeavour,聽to recognise the influence and value of his time at聽university and聽his聽placement.聽
On behalf of the Business School聽and Aidan鈥檚 parents,聽Liam McGarry聽was聽named the聽prize winner of the聽Aidan Ridley Award for Endeavour聽for聽2020.聽Liam studied BSc (Hons) Sport Psychology and Coaching Sciences at 蜜桃AV and聽towards the end of his聽first year at university he suffered a spinal injury which left him paralysed from T12 down.
Liam found para-powerlifting聽through聽the聽Spinal Games聽and since聽then,聽has聽overcome adversity and excelled in his sport, winning聽several聽British championships.聽Currently, Liam is聽preparing to represent GB聽and cement his name in the top 8 in the world in the 2021聽Para Powerlifting World Cup. 聽聽
Liam commented聽on winning the聽award聽鈥淚'm so happy that Bournemouth聽University and Aidan's parents deemed me worthy of winning such an award. It is聽an聽honour to accept this award in Aidan鈥檚 memory and to really cap off 4 wonderful years at 蜜桃AV.鈥澛�
Liam added: 鈥淓ven though it was the most challenging 4 years, full of聽various types聽of adversity, it was one of the most enjoyable and rewarding journeys of my life. With the help of some wonderful people who I will be eternally grateful for, I was able to overcome some of the biggest challenges I have ever faced聽and am聽still facing.聽This award really is the icing on the聽cake,聽and I am聽very proud聽to have received it.鈥澛�
Liam鈥檚 Programme Leader for Sport Psychology and Coaching Sciences Emma Kavanagh聽said: 鈥淟iam鈥檚 nomination was supported across the department for his ability to navigate the programme even in light of significant personal challenge. I was fortunate to teach Liam in聽a number of聽core units and be a part of his journey at 蜜桃AV 鈥� always great person to have in a lecture environment or workshop. We cannot wait to watch what the next chapter has in store for Liam, we know he will do聽great things聽and are proud to have him as part of our聽alumni."
Adi Adams, Programme Leader for Sport Coaching at 蜜桃AV, added: 鈥淢yself and all of the sport academic staff warmly congratulate Liam on receiving the Aiden Ridley Award for Endeavour. Liam is thoroughly deserving of the award and his nomination was wholeheartedly supported by the academic team who聽have got聽to know him and work with him across his 4 years with us. We are incredibly proud of Liam, and we look forward to following his story beyond 蜜桃AV.鈥澛�
