The ISLA award was established in 2021 by alumna Imani Artwell (U15) to recognise and celebrate the achievements and contributions of students of Black Caribbean and/or Black African descent and to provide visible role models within a community where Black students have historically been under-represented.
British students of Black African heritage remain a minority at Cambridge University relative to their representation in the general population. The University also provides Stormzy Scholarships (funded by a donor, and recently HSBC) to improve access and student experience at Cambridge for Black British students.
Earlier this year, we put out a call to fund the next round of ISLA awards for students at Churchill College and we are pleased to report that over £1,000 has been added to the fund, enabling it to continue for another five years.
Since the ISLA Awards were launched, 32 awards have been made. One of the recipients for 2025–26 is Dian Nziu (U23), a third-year Human, Social and Political Sciences student:
Being recognised through an initiative that supports Black students is great. I am thankful to the donors and organisers who invest in making Churchill such an inclusive and affirming space for us. I hope that initiatives like the ISLA Award continue for many years to come so that future generations of Black students at Churchill feel celebrated and confident in pursuing their ambitions. I think it’s important for Black students here to know that their presence and contributions are welcomed and championed here, so I’m glad this award exists!
Diana Nziu (U23)
Third-year Human, Social and Political Sciences student
Reflecting on the award’s impact, Imani Artwell highlights the importance of continued support for recognising and encouraging talented Black students at Churchill:
The ISLA Award couldn’t exist without the kind, generous, continued support of our wonderful donors and sponsors. Our winners and awardees are stars and have gone on to achieve stellar feats – now Lawyers, Investment Bankers, Software Engineers – often citing ISLA’s support and recognition as a source of comfort, courage, celebration and confidence as they go out into the world and achieve their dreams.
The ISLA Award continues to celebrate achievement, contribution and potential within the Black student community. By recognising talented students and making their achievements visible, it helps address the legacy of historic under-representation and encourages future generations of students to see themselves succeeding at Churchill. Support from donors enables the award to continue recognising outstanding students and celebrating the contribution they make to Churchill College.