Katie Oakes, first year SPPS student, wins BPSA Student of the Year Award

The prestigious Reckitt Beckinser-British Pharmaceutical Society Student of the Year Award aims to find an outstanding student who can act as the BPSA's official delegate, representing Great Britain, at the international Pharmaceutical Students' Federation (IPSF) Annual Congress.

Katie Oakes, a Cardiff School of Pharmacy undergraduate student, was selected from over 780 entrants.

The 2013 award was presented by RPS English Pharmacy Board member, Martin Astbury, at the 71st BPSA Annual Conference in Keele.

Katie commented "I'm very pleased and especially proud to be representing Cardiff and the School of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences at the international congress. I was really shocked to be chosen as a first year student but I really appreciate that they recognised my community experience and commitment to Pharmacy. I am looking forward to attending the congress in The Netherlands and learning more about Pharmacy around the world. It really is a unique opportunity and one I hope to share with my peers on returning.

I also have to mention that all of the students at the conference were incredibly welcoming and friendly. The whole event had a really good atmosphere and it would be really great to see more of a Cardiff presence at the 72nd conference in De Monfort University next year. I would also urge Cardiff students to make sure they enter next years student of the year competition. I would love to be handing over the trophy to a fellow Cardiff student."

Dr Louise Hughes, Katie's tutor, said: "This is a fantastic achievement in its own right but even more impressive given that Katie is only in her first year."