Nancy Wall, Interact Club Co-ordinator at Queen Elizabeth Sixth Form College (QE), Darlington, is being honoured by Rotary International in Great Britain and Ireland with a prestigious Community Champion Award. Nominated by Darlington Rotary Club, Nancy has run the College’s Interact Club for three years and supported hundreds of students as they have strived to make a difference to both local and international communities. Some of their most recent endeavours include the pledge to empower young women and girls in Uganda through the creation of 350 reusable sanitary pads and the sponsoring of two girls’ education.
Nancy has worked at QE for over ten years, teaching both Travel and Tourism and Sport and Leisure. In that time, she has gone above and beyond to provide students with exceptional options for their development. She also organises a yearly international expedition through QE Explore which has seen students visit many countries including Uzbekistan, Costa Rica and Malawi where they have changed countless lives through community projects.
Held annually, Community Champions are part of Rotary’s Champions Awards which recognise unsung heroes whose volunteering efforts have had a huge impact on people’s lives. Nancy has been chosen from members of 1,600 Rotary clubs and will receive her award at the Gala Awards Ceremony as part of Volunteer Expo Live. Nicki Scott, leader of Rotary International in Great Britain and Ireland, comments: ‘What Nancy has managed to achieve through QE’s Interact Club and QE Explore is truly inspiring. The young people she’s worked with will leave College and enter the world of work with not only a memorable experience but several important skills they wouldn’t have learnt had it not been for Nancy and the care she has taken’. Reflecting on her award, Nancy adds: ‘I am truly honoured to receive the Community Champion Award; however, it would not have been possible without the hard work of our students who are an absolute credit. I’m looking forward to continuing my work with both the Interact Club and QE Explore whose members are always determined to help those less fortunate than us.’ Tim Fisher, Principal of QE, concludes: ‘Nancy is a fantastic colleague whose commitment to making a positive difference both in this country and abroad is truly inspirational. She thoroughly deserves this award in recognition of her contribution.’
