NSCG Alumna Wins AoC Award for Inspiring EPQ
11 November 2026
On Tuesday 10th November, Newcastle and Stafford Colleges Group (NSCG) Alumna Marika Oakes was crowned the winner of the AQA Inspiring Project Award at the Association of Colleges (AoC) Conference dinner.
Chosen for her innovative exploration of prosthetics, Marika’s EPQ, titled 'Artefact: How can 3D printing technology be used to create prosthetic hands for below-elbow amputees while balancing cost, comfort, and functionality?' focused on an interest she developed during her first year of study.
To complete her EPQ Marika researched, designed and built a complete, adaptable prosthetic hand with a partial wrist, with the fingers on the prosthetic even closing as the wearer flexes their wrist. By successfully producing a functional prototype using accessible tools and resources, Marika's project highlighted how anyone with limited resources could explore innovative solutions to real-world problems, and provide them for a fraction of the usual cost.
Laura Brennan, Curriculum Leader for the Honours Programme at NSCG, said, “When Marika started at NSCG she chose A-level subjects based on what she enjoyed, as she was unsure what she wanted to do in the future. During the first year, she developed an interest in prosthetics through her Human Biology and PE studies and used the EPQ as an opportunity to explore something she was genuinely curious about. This led her to take on the challenge of designing and creating something new.
“Throughout the project, she not only learnt a lot about prosthetics, but also developed skills that she will use in the future. She became much more confident with independent research, managing her time, problem-solving and learning from things that did not work first time. Being able to take an idea from a rough sketch to a working prototype was impressive and something Marika found rewarding, developing her resilience, problem solving and independence.
“Marika thoroughly enjoyed the whole process, and the EPQ has given her both practical experience and confidence that she can take forward. She is now in her first year at Loughborough University studying Biomedical Engineering, where she can build on this experience, work with leading researchers and eventually contribute to new ideas and developments in the field.
“I am incredibly proud of everything Marika has achieved and it was a pleasure to celebrate with her and her dad at the awards evening. Her project was truly inspiring. I look forward to seeing what she does next.”