After 22 years as Head Cook at Ruskin College’s city centre site, Evelyn Shaw has deservedly won the 2008 National ‘STAR Award’ in the Support Role category from the Learning and Skills Improvement Service (LSIS). This year has seen a record quality and number of nominations, so it is a real achievement that Evelyn has won this national accolade. Ten people were short-listed for 10 different categories in a competition that attracted over 2,500 nominations.  

On Monday 24th November 2008, Evelyn travelled to the awards ceremony held at Old Billingsgate, London, with College Principal, Professor Audrey Mullender - who nominated her. Professor Mullender said: ‘I hope that lots more people will now come and sample Evelyn’s superb meals on our short courses – recruiting all year round and including over 50 Summer School courses next July. Evelyn’s fabulous cooking is a vital part of the very warm welcome Ruskin extends to all adults who want to return to learn’.  

Evelyn was presented with a glass star in a presentation box for being one of the ten finalists in her category, and as the overall winner, also received a personal cheque for £500, a heavy cut glass trophy and the chance to apply for up to £1,500 worth of equipment in her specialist area of work at the college.  

Held annually, the LSIS STAR Awards recognise and reward the unsung heroes and heroines of the further education and skills sector who have made a difference to the quality of learning that millions of people across England receive every day.  

Just as an army marches on its stomach, Ruskin thrives on Evelyn Shaw’s food. Forget turkey twizzlers, everything Evelyn cooks is freshly prepared and the recipe for her famous savoury rice is a closely guarded secret. She has even refused to tell John Prescott her secret recipe but, even so, as a famous past student of Ruskin College, Mr Prescott sent Evelyn his personal best wishes, which were read out when she went up on stage to collect her award.

Evelyn understands that a vegetarian reading Women’s Studies, will want something different from a trucker on a Trade Union Studies course. Individuals with particular religious, cultural or health needs have only to confide in her and she will prepare a special dish for them - despite feeding up to 100 hungry people every mealtime. She makes a point of marking festivals and special occasions with the appropriate cuisine and decor.

But Evelyn has also made impressive efficiency savings, reducing meal costs in line with financial requirements. She sails through difficulties and developed a ‘can do’ attitude before the expression was invented.

Based at Ruskin since 1986, Evelyn is the first person people ask after when they come back to visit, and yet she has no idea what an important member of the team she is to Ruskin College. It is wonderful to be able to acknowledge her 22 years of dedicated service and show her that she really is a star.