We are delighted to reveal the UK’s top black students of 2009 in the first annual Rare Rising Stars list. 

At Rare, we are privileged to meet extraordinary students on an almost day-to-day basis, and it was indeed our candidates who inspired the compilation of Rare Rising Stars. The list, which includes a world university debating champion, a Graduate Fashion Week Finalist, a MOBO award-winning saxophonist, and the Presidents of both Oxford and Cambridge student unions, showcases the remarkable achievements and ambitions of sixteen very talented individuals. 

After conducting a nationwide search for outstanding black students who were in full-time higher education and graduating in 2009 or later, we submitted the profiles of twenty-two shortlisted candidates for judging by Trevor Philips, current Chair of the Commission for Equality and Human Rights, and Jean Tomlin, HR Director for London 2012. Trevor and Jean scored the candidates on determination, achievement, contribution to community or society, initiative and leadership, and ability to perform at a high level in more than one area. The top sixteen made the publication and the five highest scoring Stars were given special recognition.

 

Rare’s Managing Director Raphael Mokades says: ‘By definition, we focus on people looking for employment. One of the great pleasures of this project has been that we have discovered so many more people who aren’t looking for jobs. This list contains many outstanding black students who don’t want to work for anyone else – entrepreneurs, designers, sportspeople – as well as those who have excelled in academia and student politics. Out of hundreds of thousands of black students at UK universities, we have highlighted sixteen. Each of these people has a remarkable story which we are proud to honour’.

To view the full publication, click here. 

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