Eleanor and Diogo: Student Ambassadors of the Year!

6 July 2026

Second-year undergraduate students Eleanor Harris and Diogo Figueiredo Trovoada were voted two of Oxford’s Notable Ambassadors of the Year at this summer’s Vice-Chancellor’s Awards Ceremony.

Eleanor says:

‘I feel very fortunate to have been voted as one of Oxford’s Notable Ambassadors of the Year, alongside Diogo Figueiredo Trovoada – another one of Hertford’s second years! We were given our certificates by the Vice-Chancellor at an awards ceremony a few weeks ago, which almost 100 people attended. It was really great to see so much enthusiasm for access and outreach events at Oxford, especially as many of the attendees had benefitted from such events themselves.

Diogo and I have been heavily involved in outreach events, working with the central admissions team to promote Oxford and higher education to prospective students educated at state schools/coming from underrepresented backgrounds. It’s been really rewarding to get involved with these events and doesn’t take much time at all – you are able to give as much, or as little, time as you can spare.

I would recommend getting involved to all students interested in improving access; we have a wonderful team of student ambassadors at Hertford who run Q&As/college tours, and applications for the UAO (Undergraduate Applications & Outreach) team, the general university outreach team will open in the next academic year.’

Diogo says:

‘Like many other ambassadors at Oxford, Eleanor and I have both had the opportunity to work on the same programmes we once took part in. Outreach programmes were a core part of my journey towards not just Oxford but university in general, and I can’t really picture where I’d be now without them.

These programmes are so crucial for creating opportunities for individuals facing systemic challenges and barriers that have historically prevented them from attending institutions like this. Really, it’s less about opening doors than holding them open: by showing these prospective students that there are other people like them, from the same ethnicity, area, family background, etc., we make a difference, so that these students can say “I could belong here”.

The UAO UNIQ Awards served to showcase the hard work current Student Ambassadors have been putting in for the sake of these prospective students. Eleanor delivered a speech which really hit home – her message was that student ambassadors on these programmes shape our experiences and our perception of Oxford, and that’s why I’m so proud to have worked alongside such incredible, passionate individuals!’

We’re delighted that Eleanor and Diogo’s commitment to outreach has been recognised in this way.