An award that came from the heart
Tue, 08 Feb 2011 13:01:00 GMT
A saga of heartbreak and hope has led to two University of Huddersfield students sharing a special award.
The Yip Sau Kuen Award for Social Work has been endowed by the University's Professor of Social Work, Eric Blyth, in memory of a Hong Kong-born woman, a former student, whom he planned to marry. But cancer struck and the couple managed only an informal exchange of rings before her death in May, at the age of 46.
Eric Blyth taught Yip Sau Kuen – known by the English name Cecilia – when she came to study in Huddersfield in the early 1990s. After graduating, she returned to Hong Kong and embarked on a successful career in social work. On visits to Hong Kong, Eric Blyth met up with her again and after he was appointed a visiting professor at the city's Polytechnic University, the couple's relationship deepened. They aimed to marry this summer.
Although devastated, Eric was determined to pay tribute to Cecilia, and devised the special award, to commemorate her courage and determination to serve others. The Yip Sau Kuen Award is to be given annually to a University of Huddersfield social work student who had shown outstanding personal resilience to complete their studies.
But when the judges met for the first time, they decided that two students deserved to share the £500 award, and at a moving ceremony – when Eric spoke about the sad saga and its message of hope – Danielle Jones, aged 26, from Newsome in Huddersfield, and Nathasha Tryczinki, 20, from Ashton-under-Lyne, were given £250 each. They were nominated by their tutors for the exceptional amount of effort they had put into their studies.
"During her all-too-short life, Cecilia was a true ambassador both for the University of Huddersfield and for her chosen profession on social work," said Eric at the ceremony.
"It was a measure both of her courage and her selflessness that she never allowed her own health to diminish her concern or care for others. During the final weeks of her life, Cecilia continued to show the resilience, courage and commitment to other people that this award is designed to celebrate."
