Leeds Beckett University alumnus, Honorary Doctor and Sport Hall of Fame inductee Kevin Sinfield will receive a knighthood after being named in the Kings Birthday Honours. Kevin, one of the most respected figures in British sport, has been recognised in the honours list and will become Sir Kevin Sinfield following his formal investiture for services to Rugby League, Rugby Union and the MND Community A longstanding member of the Leeds Beckett community, Kevin graduated with a BSc (Hons) in Sport Exercise Science in 2008 before returning to complete an MA in Sport Business in 2015. In 2019, he was awarded an Honorary Doctorate of Sports Science by the University in recognition of his outstanding contribution to sport. Kevin enjoyed an illustrious playing career with Leeds Rhinos, captaining the club to seven Super League titles, two Challenge Cup victories and three World Club Challenge successes. He represented both England and Great Britain and remains one of the most decorated players in rugby league history. Following his retirement from playing, Kevin moved into leadership and coaching roles across rugby league and rugby union, including positions with Leeds Rhinos, Leicester Tigers and England Rugby. In recent years, Kevin has become widely admired for his extraordinary fundraising efforts in support of the Motor Neurone Disease (MND) community. Inspired by his friendship with former Leeds Rhinos teammate and fellow Leeds Beckett alumnus Rob Burrow CBE, Kevin has undertaken a series of endurance challenges which have raised millions of pounds for MND charities, research and support services. Leeds Beckett has proudly supported a number of these initiatives, including hosting events at its Headingley Campus and working alongside Kevin, the Burrow family and Leeds Rhinos to raise awareness and support for the MND community. Kevin was also one of the inaugural inductees into the Leeds Beckett University Sport Hall of Fame in recognition of his exceptional achievements, leadership and impact both within and beyond sport. The Leeds Beckett community congratulates Kevin on this richly deserved honour.
For student Nicole Duhaney, this was an opportunity to use her experience as a professional makeup artist along with her degree learnings. Bringing together a team of five LBU students, Behind the Bloom was established to bring their Blossom Beau makeup masterclass event, where proceeds of the event will support Be More Dandelion, a charity dedicated to rebuilding confidence in women who have survived domestic abuse. After establishing the idea, the team, made up of five Event Management students, decided to apply for the Fast Forward 15 University Challenge, which involved submitting an idea and developing it into a structured, pitch-ready concept. If Behind the Bloom is selected as one of the top two teams, they will be invited to London for a final awards ceremony on 3 July. With only a few teams shortlisted for the initial stages, the students receive mentorship and industry training to deliver their event, with the winning team receiving a prize of 1000 - plus the chance to have exclusive mentoring by industry professionals. The team comprises of: Nicole Duhaneyas Event Lead Faith Adams as Operational Manager Izzy Varney as Creative Lead Ruby Crane is responsible for Marketing Operations Maddy Precious is leading on Event Styling Nicole said: "Being selected for the programme in the first place was a huge honour for us as a team, especially given the level of competition, and it really validated the strength of our idea. "It has encouraged us to approach the project in a far more entrepreneurial way, considering everything from branding and audience engagement to logistics, budgeting and long-term potential. "It's been a really valuable experience in terms of collaboration, leadership, and delivering a professional-standard event." Blossom Beau: Macys Makeup Masterclass Taking place on Sunday 26 April at Lazy Lounge, Leeds, the ticketed event invites attendees to build confidence when using makeup, from how to choose the right products to mastering techniques. Led by Macy Jade MUA, the event also includes a welcome drink, buffet, curated goodie bags and raffle prizes, with all profits being donated to the Be More Dandelion charity. Follow and support the team on their Instagram channel.