SANJAY MORTIMER FOUNDATION RISING STAR AWARD
TCT are delighted to be collaborating for the fourth year with the Sanjay Mortimer Foundation (SMF) to present the Sanjay Mortimer Foundation Rising Star Award – but this year with a slight twist! With the main awards ceremony taking place in Boston, USA, we will be bringing the SMF Rising Star Award to the main stage at TCT 3Sixty on Thursday 4th June to announce the winner of this important initiative.
We are so pleased to continue to support this award which will recognise an up-and-coming neurodivergent young person who has the potential to contribute greatly towards the engineering Industry. The winning entrant will receive a PRUSA CORE One + 3D printer and will have the opportunity to become an SMF Star, providing access to grants, training, mentorship and more.
Entry to the TCT SMF Rising Star Award is now open! For more information, entry criteria and to complete the entry form please click the link below. The closing date for entries is the 30th April 2026. Best of luck!
ABOUT THE SANJAY MORTIMER FOUNDATION
Neurodivergent minds have been shown to be associated with creativity, innovation, and risk-taking, all of which are critical skills for engineers to tackle the challenges of the future. Despite this, they remain highly underrepresented in engineering majors, which makes them significantly less likely to enter engineering careers.
The SMF is a registered charity that aims to help these neurodiverse individuals, interested in engineering and STEM, realise where their talents lie. Enabling them to shape their perceived belief in their abilities, thus building self-esteem and confidence.
Find out more about the SMF here.
PREVIOUS WINNERS
2025 - Abigail Duckworth
Abigail Duckworth found 3D printing to be the first medium that truly unleashed her creativity. Despite the challenges of undiagnosed ADHD, she excelled—leading groundbreaking research at Loughborough University on printing lattice structures onto physio tape for arthritis support. Her innovative work was showcased at AM Meets Medicine 2021 and published in a peer‑reviewed paper. Her resilience and originality make her a deserving SMF Rising Star Award recipient.
See Abby's acceptance Speech at the TCT Awards Ceremony 2025!
2024 - Charlotte Bridgewater
Charlotte Bridgewater created her Newcastle University dissertation project to support a friend with a lifelong physical disability. She is designing the “TuCan,” an assistive device that helps people with limited grip strength open beverage cans, earning one of the highest marks in her year for the initial submission. As a woman in an underrepresented field, she exemplifies creativity, drive, and compassion. Her resilience makes her a deserving SMF Rising Star Award recipient.
See Charlotte's acceptance Speech at the TCT Awards Ceremony 2024!
2023 - Zac Smith
Zac Smith’s application demonstrated that, despite the challenges of neurodiversity, he has found joy and confidence in engineering and design. He consistently produces work that highlights his technical skill, creativity, and innovative thinking, using his unique perspective to bring fresh value to the field. In his acceptance speech, 16‑year‑old Zac thanked his teachers for their support and expressed special gratitude to Sanjay for his inspiration.
See Zac's acceptance speech at the TCT Awards Ceremony 2023!