Nomination fizzles out

I had no idea what had lead to me being nominated for a teaching award. I was certain I wouldn’t win. And I didn’t. But I didn’t like the way I found out. 

I had found out about the nomination thanks to a message by the Head of School. And I also found out about the outcome that way. The Head of School sent out a message congratulating my two colleagues called Martyn with their award success, which had been celebrated at the awards night. The awards tonight? Why didn't I know there had been one?

I asked one of the Martyns how he had heard about it. And he started digging in his emails. The first email he came across was the message from the Student Union that he had been nominated. I had never had that! As I said, I had to hear it from our Head of School. So I suppose that explained it! They somehow hadn't communicated anything to me.

There is one explanation I can think of: when you do a PGCertHE, you get registered as a student. And that comes with a student email address. I don’t think that’s still active after all these years. But would that be the address they used?

It turned out wouldn't have been invited to the awards night anyway. That was only for shortlisted people, and I'm sure I wasn't shortlisted. I think in the olden days, a nomination was enough to get invited. Maybe I'm wrong! But the university has money issues, so I could imagine they take any opportunity to reduce cost. The evening also traditionally involved a meal, but this time there was only coffee, tea, and cake. Another budget cut! But I would like to have been told that I wasn't shortlisted. So my first nomination, and it ended like a damp squib. A bit disappointing. It reminded me a bit of something I had deserved and that also ended disappointing; when I got my PGCertHE, I did go to the awards evening, but I didn't get my award! I found it on the doormat when I got home. That's not a very festive way of receiving it.

The good news, obviously, is that the Martyns were shortlisted. And one of them was runner-up, and the other one had won! Very well-deserved, I'd say. Although I admit I don't know who they were up against. But they are both splendid!

Our two Martyns; one winner, one runner-up