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Students Shine at College's Star Awards
Cornwall College students are celebrating success after scooping an array of awards at the Cornwall College Student Star Awards.
The event, now in its second year, celebrates outstanding student effort and achievement throughout the last academic year, for students across all Cornwall College sites, including Duchy College and Falmouth Marine School.
The glittering awards ceremony, which took place at the Atlantic Hotel in Newquay, saw a total of 12 awards being presented, including those for Student of the Year, Progress, Sporting Achievement and Volunteering. In most categories three candidates were shortlisted, with the winners each receiving a trophy and £100, and the runners-up receiving a certificate of commendation and £25.
AWARD WINNERS
Duchy College Rosewarne student, KELLY GEE, 18, won the award for Excellence. This award recognises students who have consistently produced work of the very highest quality across their course. Kelly lives in Camborne and is studying towards a National Certificate in Animal Care, having so far achieved a distinction for almost every piece of work handed in this year.
Animal Care Programme Manager and nominator, Joanna McGuire, said: "Kelly came to Cornwall College as an 18 year old coming back into education having decided to alter her career aims. Whilst she began unsure of her own ability, she quickly settled into the course and assignments associated with it. She is one of very few students who proves through her work that she takes on board feedback comments from tutors, ensuring that the quality of her work continually improves."
ANNA BLIGHT, 22, from Cornwall College St Austell, achieved the Endeavour Award. The Health & Social Care student, who lives in St Austell, has shown commitment, determination and perseverance in the face of adversity. Despite having to deal with some difficult personal circumstances she went on to produce some outstanding work and secure her future with a UCAS application for midwifery and nursing.
Debbie Pritchard, Curriculum Area Manager for Health & Social Care said: "Anna has remained dedicated and motivated throughout the course when many students would have buckled, and still puts in supreme efforts to achieve distinction grades on most units. She thoroughly deserves this recognition for endeavour."
Northeast-African born MICHAEL HABTU, 26, from Plymouth, received the Progress Award. Michael, who studies in the Business Access to Higher Education course at Cornwall College Saltash, was nominated for his ability to move forward in his academic studies and in his own life.
Kevin Smale, Access to Business Course Manager, said: "Michael is a student from overseas and has worked very hard to not only complete assignments on a challenging course but also to develop his English/literacy skills. His work output is incredible, I have received emailed assignments at 2am and at times he spends up to 10 hours re-writing his essays in pursuit of excellence. He is a very popular student who is respected and liked by his colleagues. We held a blind vote and his selection for this category was unanimous. He is an inspiration to his colleagues."
ALLAN HOLLOWAY, 17, was named Further Education Student of the Year. Alan, who is studying to become a chef at Cornwall College St Austell, offered the best all-round commitment to the college experience within and beyond the classroom. Earlier this year he also won a Dream Job competition, which saw him complete work experience in some of London's top hotel restaurants, including The Dorchester.
Steve Rudd, Chef Lecturer, said: "In my view Alan has been seen to impress all of our department lecturers with a mature attitude towards college life, his course and his development. When not in lessons Alan can be found in the learning centre working on assignments, organising the student committee in his role as treasurer, organising transport and accommodation for the group's recent work experience trip. Alans' work has consistently been from the top draw, any advice , tips or feedback given from myself is digested, thought about and acted upon. I am very sure we will see Alan gaining a top position in his profession very soon. Alan should be commended for setting the perfect example of what can be achieved by any student with determination and effort."
Higher Education Student of the Year went to PIERRE TALLON-QUERAUD. Originally from France, Pierre, 20, is currently studying for his foundation degree in Surf Science and Technology at Cornwall College Newquay. He was recognised for taking an incredibly active role in every aspect of college life, maintaining a high standard of academic work and fully committing to his work with the student union. He's represented the College locally, nationally and in Parliament, as has just been elected as Newquay's Students' Union Chairperson.
Brender Willmott, Course Manager for Surf Science, said: "Pierre is a truly motivated student who has shown exceptional commitment to the course and to college life. He has been a student rep, student ambassador, student governor and an excellent role model for both students on his course and on the Newquay campus and the College in general. He has engaged with every aspect of the course at the highest level and is always the first to promote the college at outside events and to the general public. He gained a vast amount of pleasure from his studies and still manages to play hard and yet achieve and work to support his studies. The College could ask for no better ambassador for its courses, for its students and as a shining example of successful Higher Education in a Further Education context."
Duchy College Stoke Climsland student CHLOE ROBERTS, 18, claimed the Sporting Achievement award, following a hugely successful year. Chloe, from Plymouth, has excelled in sport, having been selected for the England Ladies football team, and also plays for Plymouth Argyle Ladies 1st team. She has given her all to her National Diploma in Football Studies and is also studying towards the Award in Higher Sports Leadership.
Mike Carnall, Senior Tutor at Duchy College, said: "Chloe has shown great determination and skill in being selected for England Ladies football, whilst maintaining her commitment to her course."
KATY WARRINER, 25, from Helston, was presented with the Volunteering Award. She is studying the foundation degree Marine Science at Falmouth Marine School. Katy has been involved with the British Divers Marine Life Rescue (BDMLR) since the beginning of her course and has been involved in some truly dramatic events in the last year. She was given credit for her emotional fortitude in the face of harrowing circumstances.
Stephen Hickman, Deputy Head of Falmouth Marine School, said: "In June 2008, volunteering with the BDMLR, Katy was called to help at the mass dolphin stranding within Percuil River at Falmouth Bay. Her work-based assignment about this experience makes for very sobering reading indeed. That day she was hauling dead carcasses out of the water, photographing dead dolphins and reporting their body descriptions. Katy also gave accounts of the incident to local and national media. Some people might have buckled under such strain, but remarkably, this experience has strengthened her as an individual, and has now motivated her to centre her research project on the anthropogenic noise and its effects on mammals."
MARK THEAKER from Truro was named best Student Union (CCSU) Media Contributor. Mark has used the skills learnt on his Creative Photography course at Cornwall College Camborne and his natural ability with words to offer up a number of articles for the CCSU magazine.
John Clayton, Students' Union President, said: "Mark has been a consistently excellent contributor to the magazine, both visually and literally over the last 18 months. He produces quality work which does his artistry and subject matter all due credit."
TOBY CLEMENCE, 18, from Camborne, came out on top in the Male Innovation and Leadership Category. The Furniture Studies student overcame the odds to enrol at Cornwall College Camborne, no mean feat for a profoundly deaf student whose only form of communication is British Sign Language.
Nominator Philomena Clifford said: "Toby was originally slightly disaffected and uninterested in college but he has moved on from this starting point to be one of the best, if not the best, student in his group. He uses BSL (British Sign Language) as his form of communication and he has formed good relationships with his peers and lecturers. We have been running a signing club on Monday lunchtimes primarily for Toby’s lecturers to enable them to communicate with him. Toby has actually been tutoring on this course and his inimitable style of teaching has proved popular with all and really enhanced communication between the lecturers and Toby. He is a role model for other deaf students as he has gradually acquired a mature attitude to life and his work."
Cornwall College St Austell Travel & Tourism students jointly won the Female Innovation and Leadership Award. JO RETALLICK, 20, from St Austell and HAYLEY WOOTTON, 18, from Bodmin, were invited to present their project on Cornwall's tourism sustainability at an international Tourism Conference in France. In addition, they developed what they hope will become a worldwide student group, The Green Gofors, encouraging students to think global and act local in helping tourism businesses be more sustainable.
Carleen Kelemen, Director of the Convergence Partnership Office for Cornwall and the Isles of Scilly, personally sponsored the Female Innovation Award. She said: “It is so important that students are encouraged to do well and rewarded when they do. Statistics show that females still face more barriers than males once they leave education so to support female students’ achievements from as early a stage as possible is important. Many women in Cornwall run businesses and I want this award to be a way of encouraging the new generations to step up to the mark and give it their best shot.”
Falmouth Marine School's MATT GIGG claimed the Students' Union (CCSU) Student of the Year award. Matt, 18, from Bideford, studies Watersports and was nominated by his peers for embodying the spirit of student life in Cornwall and making an outstanding contribution to the lives of others.
John Clayton, CCSU President, said: "Matt has been a motivating influence on all who know him, leading his fellow students academically and socially despite much personal adversity. Always the life and soul of the party, and doing some fine work for charity along the way."
LIAM MOORE, 17, from Plymouth, achieved the best Students' Union (CCSU) Committee Member award. Liam, who has high-functioning autism, battled the condition to join an IT course at Cornwall College Saltash, his first experience of mainstream education since the age of eleven. He has worked tirelessly in his effort to raise the profile of the Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender (LGBT) community at Cornwall College, and has recently been re-elected as the SU's LGBT Officer for the next academic year, having recently attended a national conference on the subject.
Liam said: "I was shocked and surprised when I found out I'd won, but very happy that all the effort I'd put in had been recognised. The awards are a great chance for students at the College to be appreciated and acknowledged for all the hard work they do throughout the year."
John Clayton, Students' Union President, said: "Liam has shown a precarious talent since his arrival within the Union, contributing to the magazine, challenging authority and leading CCSU's first liberation campaign. He is a prolific contributor to debate at every level."
SPONSORS
The awards were presented by John Clayton, President of the Cornwall College Students' Union. Sponsors included Poynton Bradbury Wynter Cole Architects, Volunteer Cornwall, Carleen Keleman (Director of the Convergence Partnership Office for Cornwall and the Isles of Scilly), Lush Soaps of Truro, The Body Shop, Waterstones, Rip Curl and Brakes Catering. Thanks also went to the Cornwall College Soul Band who performed during the ceremony.
Dave Linnell OBE, Principal of Cornwall College, said: “This was a prestigious award ceremony for some exceptional students. These students have shown themselves to be outstanding in many different ways. I congratulate all of the winners and the runners up and wish them the very best of luck for their future success. In reality, each and every one of them is a shining ‘star’.”
Cornwall College also holds a Staff Star Awards ceremony on the 24th June to recognise the achievements of academic and non-teaching staff.
