Five students have received awards from a bursary scheme for academic achievement and making a difference in their community.

The Essex University students and Wivenhoe residents were rewarded for their contribution to the town and success in their studies.

Award funds are raised at the annual Wivenhoe Town and Gown dinner held at the Nottage Maritime Institute in Wivenhoe.

It was set up in 2005 at the instigation of the then mayor and mayoress of Wivenhoe, Tom Roberts and Dilly Meyer. Dilly is also operations manager at the University Skills Centre.

The students shared £2,000 raised from the last dinner.

James Martin, alumni relations officer, said: “These bursaries will make a big difference to these students and will help them to get the best from their studies. The university is greatly indebted to the fantastic generosity of the people of Wivenhoe for making the Wivenhoe Bursary possible.”

The next Town and Gown dinner will take place on Friday November 23 with incoming university Vice-Chancellor Professor Anthony Forster speaking. For tickets contact Dilly Meyer at dilly@essex.ac.uk.

The winners

  • David Batho - second year PhD philosophy student, head organiser for the 13th Graduate Conference in Philosophy and founder of Wivenhoe Philosophy Group.
  • Steven Bertie - second year BA English language and ELT student, member of the Mature Students’ Society and volunteer conversational English tutor.
  • Catalina Chioveanu - second year BSc ICT student, part of the volunteer team which repainted Wivenhoe Town Football Club.
  • Julie Greenland - second year BA criminology with social psychology student , long-time Wivenhoe resident and volunteer for Supporting Others through Volunteer Action and Drug and Alcohol Action Team.
  • Geoffrey Towsey - third year BA contemporary history student, going on to study a masters degree at Essex University, and a senior student ambassador and volunteer teacher at Montgomery and Broomgrove Primary Schools.