These awards recognise the achievements of herbal students in areas of herbal skill such as Pharmacology, Materia Medica, Pharmacy and Clinical Skills, as well as in creative areas, and recognition for first year and final year students. They are presented to students from our accredited courses.
Student Awards
Award Categories
First Year Awards
- Henry Potter Award for Best 1st Year Student – Named after esteemed 19th century London herbalist Henry Potter, and still supported by the business he started, this prize is awarded by each of our accredited schools to one of their first year cohort, recognising academic attainment or notable contributions.
Final Year Awards
- Michael Burns Award for Outstanding Final Year Student – honouring one of our former Members, this award, donated by his family in his memory, to awarded to a graduating student who has overcome significant obstacles in order to qualify as a medical herbalist.
- Arthur Barker Award for Best Graduate –Â Arthur Barker FNIMH was President from 1934 to 1936 and from 1938 to 1952, and one of our longest serving Presidents. This award in his name recognises the graduate who has excelled in their cohort academically.
- Dorothy Carroll Award for Top Final Clinical Exam – Dorothy was a dedicated herbalist with a true calling for helping people, and was also a first class teacher. For some years she ran the Coventry teaching clinic on Saturdays and was a great inspiration to her students. After her death her family kindly offered this prize to recognise the student who attained the highest mark in their Final Clinical Exam.
Herbal Skill Awards
- Phyto Products Award for Pharmacology – given to recognise the student who has shown outstanding skill in the understanding of pharmacology – the study of the effects of medicines on biological systems.
- Panacea/Balance Health Award for Materia Medica – this award recognises the student who has demonstrated the highest knowledge of materia medica – the therapeutic properties of any substance used for healing.
- The Duncan Napier Prize for Phytochemical excellence – recognises outstanding achievement in the study and application of phytochemistry within the course programme. Awarded at the discretion of course tutors, this prize celebrates a student who has demonstrated exceptional knowledge, curiosity, and engagement with the chemical constituents of medicinal plants and their relevance to herbal practice. Named in honour of Duncan Napier, the award reflects a commitment to academic rigour and the continuing advancement of herbal medicine education.
- Organic Herb Trading award for the Art of Herbal Practice – this award recognises the student who has shown great understanding of the art of effective practice, through consultation skills, innovation or anything else the school wishes to recognise.
Creativity Awards
- The Rutland Biodynamics Nigel Wynn Memorial Award for Innovation – Nigel was known as convivial and gregarious with a quirky sense of humour born of an original view on life. This award, for originality linked to herbal projects, celebrates that spirit.Â
- Aeon Excellence in Writing Award – this award, supported by our Friends at Aeon Books, recognises a student who has demonstrated exceptional skill in a piece of written work, showcasing the importance of recording herbal knowledge.
- Herbal Apothecary Research Award – research is a key part of furthering the profession, and this award celebrates the student who has undertaken an outstanding piece of research based work during their studies.
- Herbal Medicine Trust Award for Promotion – recognising the importance of promoting herbal medicine, this award is given to the student who best raises awareness of any element of herbal medicine during their studies
List of Winners for Academic Years:
Henry Potter Award for Best 1st Year Student
2024 – Rachel Turner (Betonica), Amelia Gillard (Lincoln), Jen Thomas (Heartwood)
2023 – Richard O’Neil (The School of Herbal Medicine), Eloise Walton (Betonica), Kathleen Jones (Heartwood), Ruth King (Lincoln College)
2022 – Lana Diamond-Davies (Betonica), Urara Donohoe (Heartwood), Sarah Farrow (Lincoln College) and Debbie Ashford (The School of Herbal Medicine)
2021 – Laura Evans (Betonica) and Georgina Chloe Paterson (The School of Herbal Medicine)
2020 – Victoria Kilgour (Heartwood) and Ash Brachi (Heartwood)
Michael Burns Award for Outstanding Final Year Student
2024 – Corin Sadler (Lincoln)
2023 – Katie Riley (The School of Herbal Medicine)
2022 – Alicia Taylor (Betonica)
2021 – Clare Dimitriou (Heartwood)
2020 – Abigail Jackson-Burks (Lincoln College)
Arthur Barker Award for Best Graduate
2024 – Laura Evans (Betonica)
2023 – Lesley Dawson (Heartwood) and Michaela Bottner (Lincoln College)
2022 – Michaela Böttner (Lincoln College)
2021 – Abi Jackson (Lincoln College) and Alice Johnston (Heartwood)
2020 – Joy Holmes (Lincoln College) and Maria Flora Franchini (Westminster)
Dorothy Carroll Award for Top Final Clinical Exam
2024 – Kate Bond (Heartwood), Sarah Farrow (Lincoln)
2023 – Sarah Jane Scouten (Betonica)
2022 – Cath Couzens (Heartwood)
2021 – Claire Parkinson and Wendy Sullivan (Lincoln College)
2020 – Marianne McLaughlin (Heartwood)
Phyto Products Award for Pharmacology
2024 – Fiona Heathcote (Heartwood)
2023 – Corin Saddler (Lincoln College)
2022 – Vanessa Bernal Laufer (The School of Herbal Medicine)
2021 – Jo Webster (Betonica)
2020 – Katy Fullilove (Lincoln College)
Panacea/Balance Health Award for Materia Medica
2024 – Federica Pantaleo (Lincoln)
2023 – Jo McGain (The School of Herbal Medicine)
2022 – Alice Lancaster (Betonica)
2021 – Deborah Davies (The School of Herbal Medicine)
2020 – Marianne McLaughlin (Heartwood)
Herbs in a Bottle Award for Pharmacy
2024 – Yolanda Sanger (Betonica)
2023 – Bella Crook (Betonica)
2022 – Laura Downie (Heartwood)
2021 – Claudia Germana (Lincoln College)
2020 – Samantha Christie (Westminster)
Organic Herb Trading award for the Art of Herbal Practice
2022 (NEW!) – Dylan Parry (Lincoln College)
The Rutland Biodynamics Nigel Wynn Memorial Award for Innovation
2024 – Rebecca Smith (Heartwood)
2023 – Aude Echalier (Betonica)
2022 – Naa Adjeley Kwei (Heartwood)
2021 – Tryphena Huntingford (Betonica)
2020 – Beate Aldenhoff (Lincoln)
Aeon Excellence in Writing Award
2024 – Flora Scott (Betonica)
2023 – Paine B Hoehne (Heartwood)
2022 (NEW!) – Corin Sadler (Lincoln College)
Herbal Apothecary Research Award
2024 – Suzi Richer (Betonica)
2023 – Carla Bradley (Lincoln College)
2022 (NEW!) – Katie Riley (The School of Herbal Medicine)
Herbal Trust Award for Promotion
2024 – Elle Shuttleton (Lincoln)
2023 – Sarah Parrott (The School of Herbal Medicine)
2022 (NEW!) – Arlene Burnett (Betonica)