Head of College Emily Wilkinson has already made a huge impression at Shiplake College, and this has now been recognised nationally as well by charity Sue Ryder. Only joining Shiplake in 2015 for Sixth Form, it quickly became clear that Emily excelled both academically and in her co-curricular pursuits. Due to this, and her unfailing optimism, Emily was awarded the accolade of the first female Head of College. Her many achievements and sunny disposition led to her being nominated for the Sue Ryder Young Woman of Achievement Award.
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Emily, a Biology scholar, has gained her Grade 7 in Ballet, was a national drill champion for the air cadets, and has also just achieved her gold Duke of Edinburgh award, having worked towards it throughout her time at Shiplake. Emily has faced hardship in her life. At the tender age of eight, Emily lost her mother to a fight against brain cancer. Facing adversity at such a young age has helped make Emily a strong, empathetic and understanding young woman, taking setbacks in her stride whilst remaining optimistic. She has become a young ambassador for Twyford bereavement charity Daisy’s Dream. Emily has achieved all of this despite battling Crohn’s disease and undergoing serious operations as a result of this. Her incredible warmth and enduring spirit made her the ideal nominee for the Sue Ryder Young Woman of Achievement award.
The awards were set up to proudly celebrate women from across Berkshire, Buckinghamshire and Oxfordshire, who have done exceptional things. The nominees stand out as a role model and an inspiration to other women. There are a number of different categories, and Emily was nominated for the Young Woman of Achievement award, which recognises someone who has made an exceptional contribution to their local community from a young age. Emily attended the awards ceremony on Friday 10 March with her dad, and was stunned when she won the award. She says: ‘it was a really incredible day; I met so many inspirational people and feel really lucky. I was absolutely amazed when they read out my name – I definitely cried a little, and so did my dad! I was sure that I wasn’t going to win, so I hadn’t prepared any kind of speech. I still don’t know who nominated me for the award, but I am so touched that people see something exceptional in what I’ve done. For me, I don’t think I’ve achieved anything outstanding so it feels wonderful to have been noticed by the community and the charity, Sue Ryder. I was amongst such amazing people with these inspirational stories to tell at the ceremony; in particular, the winner of the Woman of Achievement in Services, Flight Sergeant Anna Irwin. She couldn’t attend the ceremony as she was climbing Ben Nevis! Anna has been diagnosed with terminal lung cancer. Despite only having one lung working, she has achieved a series of unbelievable feats and is planning on completing an Iron Man challenge in Spain soon. She has done all of this to raise money for charity, and has so far raised £50,000. To be honoured amongst women like Anna was unreal, and I’m so grateful to Sue Ryder and my mystery nominator for this experience!’
