Talented students recognised at Unity 101's 18th Anniversary Awards

This year's ceremony took place on Friday 5 January, bringing together more than 300 guests from across the city, as well as former Leader of the Council, Councillor Satvir Kaur, to celebrate the achievements of Southampton's diverse communities.

Every year, a member of Solent University's talented learning and teaching community is recognised by Unity 101. This year, Sonar Events - who have played a key role at the awards ceremony for the last eight years, providing sound and production expertise - took home the win. 

Recognising their outstanding contribution to students, providing hands-on work experience that boosts CV's and hones skills, Ram Kalyan, Project and Station Manager at Unity 101, says:

"Working alongside students of all levels at Sonar Events, providing them with real-time experiences, not only benefits us but also empowers other community initiatives in achieving their goals to better serve the local community."

Members of the Sonar team travel around the country to participate in exciting live events, from music festivals to sports, as well as taking part in activities in the heart of the city. The team is known for taking the skills of students to the next level, propelling their careers in TV and events while they are still studying.

Ben Killackey and George Coleman, Chair and Vice-Chair of Sonar Events, say:

"It's a huge honour for Sonar to receive the Unity 101 Partnership Award. Unity have been an incredible long-term partner with us and have provided members with a wide range of experience at a multitude of events, offering real-world opportunities whilst being able to actively engage with the local community. 

"All of our members put in incredible amounts of dedication and passion to make these events possible, and we all feel incredibly privileged to have been recognised both locally and nationally in the past year, something I'm certain will stick with us all throughout the rest of our careers.

"Being actively engaged in societies has shaped mine and many of our members time whilst at university, and I don't think any of us would feel as confident as we are working real-world events without organisations like Unity."

Solent University and Unity 101 have partnered for more than 15 years, providing students with future-ready experiences that benefit the community-run radio station. As well as giving learners a passion for media production the opportunity to enhance their skills at events, Unity also invites students to take part in their productions.

Solent's Vice-Chancellor, Professor James Knowles, says: "Unity 101 is synonymous with Southampton's identity; they are at the heart of community and inclusion in the city. We are delighted to continue working alongside them to enhance student opportunities and support the station with the skills on offer at Solent and will proudly continue to do so."