Announcing the winner of the Norah Isaac Memorial Prize 2023

3 July 2023

The University of Wales Trinity Saint David has announced that the winner of the Norah Isaac Memorial Award 2023 is Ffion Anderson, BA Primary Education with QTS student from the Gwendraeth Valley.

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

Norah Isaac 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 the support and generosity of Carmarthen’s Civic Society, it was arranged that Ffion would receive her award in a reception on the Carmarthen campus during the graduation ceremonies.

Ffion’s passion and enthusiasm, as a student on the BA Primary Education with QTS, for all things Welsh inspired 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 exhibited excellent organisational skills when she organised a trip to Scotland to the Six Nations Championship and collaborated tirelessly with her colleagues and with other members of staff to ensure the success of the Inter-collegiate Eisteddfod held on the Lampeter campus earlier this year.

She also contributed to a host of interviews on the media over the year, giving her opinion on hot topics such as the cost of living for students and the fall in young Welsh speakers in Carmarthenshire following the 2021 census results.

She also promoted the use of the Welsh language as an enthusiastic member of the University’s Sports Academy’s netball team.

As a member of the Urdd, she supported and contributed to a number of activities to raise money for the Carmarthenshire Eisteddfod organised by the University. In addition, she took part in Coleg Cymraeg Cenedlaethol Branch’s activities including freshers’ weekend, and Saint David’s Day celebrations and sang in the Branch’s choir in services.

During her successful professional teaching experience, she strove to raise the language standards of the young people in her care by holding activities such as a Chat Scheme to encourage the development of their speech. Following this she was appointed a Key Stage Two teacher starting in September 2023 in the very same school, so that she can continue to be an excellent ambassador for future generations. In addition to the requirements of her course, she studied for the Coleg Cymraeg Cenedlaethol’s Welsh Language Skills Certificate exam.

Ffion said:

“I am delighted to have won the Norah Isaac Award. The Welsh language and my Welshness is particularly important to me, so winning this award is a huge honour. Choosing a university with a Welsh culture was vitally important to me, so where better than the centre of Carmarthen town?

“Without a doubt, the University has provided me with a special BA Primary Education course through the medium of Welsh, with experienced and supportive lecturers at its helm. This has given me a firm foundation as a teacher, and it will be an honour to transfer the Welsh language and culture to future pupils.

“As I began my experience under the cloud of Covid, I was determined to return to Welsh life at the University and ensure that the Welsh Society continued to run. I was honoured to be part of a special team organising the Inter-collegiate Eisteddfod in Lampeter. As the Welsh Society’s President, I felt proud to wear the UWTSD badge and watch students competing on the Eisteddfod stage.”

Councillor Peter Hughes Griffiths from Carmarthen Civic Society added:

“Carmarthen Civic Society congratulates Ffion Anderson wholeheartedly on winning this year’s Norah Isaac Memorial Award which is presented annually by the Society. Seeing a young person promoting the Welsh language and Welshness during her time in college is something to be proud of and was one of Norah Isaac’s priorities when she was a lecturer at Trinity College.

Nanna Ryder, UWTSD’s Senior Lecturer in Education noted,

“It has been a pleasure to support Ffion on the BA Primary Education course with QTS throughout the three years. Her passion and passion for the Welsh language is infectious and she fully deserves this prestigious award for her significant contribution to the University’s Welsh life. Many congratulations to her on receiving the honour and best wishes to her in inspiring future generations in her first job as a teacher at Ysgol Lon Las in September.”