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Students Awarded For Star Achievements
The efforts and achievements of Cornwall College students have been rewarded at the Student Star Awards 2012 at a glittering ceremony.
Outstanding student success and determination throughout the academic year is celebrated at the annual event for students from campuses in Camborne, Newquay, Saltash, St Austell, Duchy College Stoke Climsland and Rosewarne, and Falmouth Marine School.
Twelve awards were presented at the glittering awards ceremony, which took place at the Atlantic Hotel in Newquay, including those for Student of the Year, Progress, Sporting Achievement and Volunteering. In most categories three candidates were shortlisted from over 250 nominations, with the winners each receiving a trophy and £100, and the runners-up receiving a certificate of commendation and £25. Cornwall College St Austell performing arts students provided music during the evening with one of the department’s live bands playing songs through the decades.
Joe Vinson, President of Cornwall College Students’ Union, said: “I was honoured to host the Cornwall College Student Star Awards. The awards evening was a celebration of the consistent determination students at Cornwall College show in their work. College is where individuals nurture their aspiration and develop into better people. This is why it is so important to acknowledge those who have gone over and above the requirements of their course, and those who really go that extra mile.”
AWARD WINNERS
CHARLOTTE SMITH, 20 from St Columb, achieved the Endeavour Award for the student who has evidenced real commitment, determination and perseverance. The Health and Social Care student, who studies at the St Austell campus, has persisted with her work to a high level challenging circumstances.
Debbie Pritchard, Course Manager, said: “Lottie didn’t have an easy start to college. Her behaviour wasn’t great to put it lightly. We were compassionate and offered help but she was eventually told to make a decision; improve her behaviour or leave the course. Something clicked and we saw an amazing change in her, despite having to cope with a family tragedy whilst trying to turn her attitude to education around. She now shows autonomy and a mature approach to work and deadlines and is ready to progress into work and higher education. A true success story for our department - I feel proud that I have contributed to her progress but more than this feel proud of the person she has now become and convinced that she is in the right vocational field as she will make a top notch nurse in the future.”
DEAN GREY, a mature student from Falmouth, was named Further Education (FE) Student of the Year. Dean, who is studying towards a Combined Studies Access to Higher Education Diploma at Cornwall College Camborne, offered the best all-round commitment to the college within and beyond the classroom despite ill health.
Programme leader and nominator Dan Devlin said: “Dean has taken a somewhat atypical route back into education after ill health, following the combined studies pathway as a new area of interest. Dean needed to reconsider his career options, so was delighted when he was offered the opportunity to re-engage in his chosen area of study in the built environment. He has given a consistently strong level of academic performance with a mixture of merits and distinctions across the range of subjects that he has studied. He has quickly established himself as a key member of his group and has shown genuine dedication to his studies.
“There is every indication that Dean will far exceed the offer that has been made by Exeter University. That Dean applied for the renewable energy degree at Tremough campus, which is certainly not the norm for the combined studies course, again demonstrates his commitment to the subject area and ability to think laterally to solve problems, which will assist him in applying renewable technologies in an uncertain political arena. The team and I admire how much work he has put into the course and the positive mental attitude that he has displayed in the face of a life changing situation.”
Dean said: “I was surprised to win! It was a shock to be nominated considering there are 35,000 students in college so it feels great.”
SAMANTHA CONGDON, 25, won the award for Excellence. This award recognises students who have consistently produced work of the very highest quality across their course. Samantha lives in Falmouth and is studying towards an IMI Maintenance and Repair in Motor Vehicle Technical Certificate and NVQ Level 3 at Camborne. She works for North Country Garage in Redruth.
Automotive Course Manager and nominator David Nowak said: "Samantha sets her goals out at the start and leaves no stone unturned in achieving them. Her work ethic is second to none. Her employers say that Samantha is an excellent team player and is one of the most helpful people they have ever employed. After three months of starting Samantha is quite regularly left in charge of the work place if the owners have to be away. She has completed her portfolio in seven months even though she has up to two years to do this. This is indeed an outstanding achievement and bears witness to her excellence!”
JOHN CUTHBERTSON, 19, from Helston, received the Progress Award. Jack, who studies Animal Management at Duchy College Rosewarne, was nominated for his ability to move forward in his academic studies and in his own life despite contending with dyslexia.
Animal Care lecturer and nominator Nicola Penrose said: “John has progressed through the levels from level 2 animal care to the second year level 3 animal management. Although always a promising student he is now working exceptionally hard in order to meet his offer of a place at Roehampton University to read for a BSc in Zoology. The offer is for distinctions and merits in his level 3 modules and he is currently going through his last year's assignments and attempting to upgrade a proportion of them. He is very motivated and is determined to achieve his goal of progressing on to Higher Education, despite having moderate dyslexia. He has grown up tremendously in the last year and thoroughly deserves both this award and to achieve his career aims.”
Higher Education (HE) Student of the Year went to HILLARY GUTHRIE, from St Day. Hillary is working towards a Children and Young People’s Workforce Foundation Degree at Cornwall College Camborne. She was recognised for best demonstrating an all-round commitment to her higher education course and college experience whilst raising a young family, working and volunteering.
Course manager and nominator Rhisiart Tal-e-bot said: “From the beginning of her foundation degree Hilary has been the model student. She has not only excelled academically in her studies, but she has also supported her peers by giving encouragement, sharing good academic practice and sending them any work that they have missed or may find useful in their studies. When Hilary is not in College she is caring for her young family, working as a manager of a children’s centre or undertaking one of the several voluntary roles that she is involved in with children and their families. I know that it is has not always been easy for Hilary to manage her time effectively with the responsibilities of home, work, voluntary roles and her studies, but she never complains and rarely talks about herself and her achievements. Hilary has been and will continue to be an excellent ambassador for Cornwall College and is hoping to continue to pursue further studies at the institution next year.”
Falmouth Marine School student MICHAEL SOUTHEY, 18, claimed the Sporting Achievement award, following a hugely successful year. Michael, from St Austell, has just completed a Watersports Diploma.
Course manager Emily Woollard said: “Michael has achieved a lot in K1 Kayak Marathon Racing over the last two years whilst being at Falmouth Marine School. He came second in the Juniors Devizes to Westminster Marathon Race in 2010, and then this year (2012) he came first. He has moved up Divisions and he now paddles in the second Division which is an excellent achievement. Last year in the third Division he came second in both his big races beating third place by four minutes and only seconds off the first place paddler. He also paddled in the Denmark race in 2010 and did very well. The sport demands a high level of training and commitment to competitions, most evenings and weekends. Mike has managed to finish his BTEC in Watersports to a very high level whilst competing. Excellent work!”
MATTHEW WALLACE, 17 from Liskeard, was presented with the Volunteering Award. Matthew is studying the Vocational Studies Certificate at Duchy College Stoke Climsland.
Course manager and nominator Mark Claridge said: “Matthew has continually worked throughout the year in a positive and encouraging manner whilst volunteering at Scope, Churchtown. He always gets involved and often calls his peers to task in order to achieve what has been asked of them. He is likeable member of the group who has worked hard in the classroom to improve, attending additional literacy lessons. He can excel when asked to help and will often take on the more labour intensive task. With his 'I can do that' attitude he is a credit to himself and the college and will often be singled out for his efforts by our hosts when out volunteering.”
Falmouth Marine School student JESS HIRONS, from Helston, won the Innovation and Leadership Award. Jess, who is studying a marine science foundation degree, has considerable inventiveness and personal drive in carrying through an enterprise to a successful conclusion.
Colin Smith, Learning Centre Manager and nominator, said: “Jess has been hailed in both TV and Radio as an innovator within marine biology conservation, with her creation of a seal persona which she has called Patch. With her new friend in tow which is a suitcase in the shape of a seal, she has been going around the local schools and libraries getting the young students involved in conservation of the Blackrock seals in Falmouth. She takes with her rubbish she has collected from the beaches and tells them how this is dangerous to our local wildlife. As part of her sessions she also discusses the food webs which allow the seals to grow and reproduce and she has been getting them to also design their own seal marketing and messages. The thing that makes this all so much more impressive is that this is all been done while Jess has juggled college and a young family of two all on her own.”
SAMMY FOWLER claimed the Students' Union (CCSU) Students’ Student award. Sammy, 19, from Brixham but living in Falmouth, studies Watersports and was nominated by her peers for embodying the spirit of student life in Cornwall and making an outstanding contribution to the lives of others.
Student Liaison Officer Pip Hayler said: “Over the past two years Sammy has shown the most determination I have ever seen from a student. She has been fully committed to her course and been a part of the SU both years taking on the responsibility of Chair this year. She has always been top of her class, completing her course work well within the deadlines, and as tutors have told me to degree level standards, although she is studying at FE level. Sammy has had to deal with some complicated medical problems but at no point has this stopped her enthusiasm and determination to complete her course and represent the student voice. She is truly an inspiration to anyone who knows her.”
LEONA SUTTON, 20, from Plymouth but living in Newquay, achieved the Students' Union (CCSU) Student Representative of the Year award. Leona, who is studying towards a Foundation Degree in Zoological Conservation at Cornwall College Newquay, was presented with the award for her contribution to the Students’ Union in the last year.
Joe Vinson, Student’s Union President, said: “Leona has been involved in every aspect of college this year, she also sits on the board and often acts as CCSU Newquay chair at meetings in the absence of the current chairperson. She has been a key feature in all that CCSU have achieved at Newquay and has also been involved in the green team and a wide range of other activities in the college.”
DARREN FORDHAM, from Delabole, was named Apprentice of the Year. Darren, an engineering apprentice with Tulip in Bodmin who undertakes his college training at St Austell with Cornwall College Business, has excelled in achieving his learning targets and has produced work of the highest quality.
Course manager Dave Constance said: “From day one Darren has always submitted work of the highest standard, achieving distinction grades for all units completed to date. As the end of the programme approaches the excellent standard of work is being maintained, and it is expected that Darren will gain a double distinction grade. This is the highest level of grade achievable under the new diploma, and is equivalent to two A levels at A*. Darren has successfully balanced College work with the demands of being employed, working three days a week or more. This has meant Darren has had to complete much of the work in his own time. In addition he has also completed his workplace based level 3 NVQ ahead of time. The entire course team feel Darren deserves recognition for his achievements.”
The Green award was claimed by the GREENFINGERS students from Duchy College Rosewarne, awarded to students who have sought ways to reduce and minimise negative impact on the environment. The team is made up of Michael Halliday, Richard Hobson, Chloe Gayle, Linda Bouldstridge, Danny Lambert, Max Wilson, Luke Phillips, Dylan Jones, Dominic Hughes, Helen Chidley, James Mitchell and Sam McDermott.
Lecturer Andrew Gunderson said: “I nominated the whole group because of their continuous hard work on the grounds at Rosewarne: mulching, chipping, re-cycling organic waste, vegetable growing, ornamental planting and re-using many materials (plastics, metals and wood). They have set a standard for others to follow and proved that being green is not an eccentric past-time. As well as their work on campus, the group also worked outside the college helping to sow new lawns, plant shrubs and maintain public amenity areas in Camborne, Redruth and Helston. More than 150 trees were planted for a land owner near Stithians who needed to provide shelter for livestock. About a quarter of the trees had been produced from seed at Rosewarne. The team have contributed a significant amount to raising the profile of green issues in the college and truly deserve recognition in this area.”
Team member Linda Bouldstridge said: “It’s fantastic to win this award, what a great achievement. We’ve learnt so much and thanks to Andrew we’ve been able to go into the community and work together with them on projects such as recycling which is something that is lacking as a community project.”
SPONSORS
The awards were presented by Joe Vinson, President of the Cornwall College Students' Union. Sponsors included Cornwall College Business, Doble Quality Foods, Pirate FM, Scottish and Southern Energy, Plymouth University, Brewer and Bunney Ltd and Cornwall College Students’ Union.
Dave Linnell, Principal of Cornwall College, said: “The Star Awards recognise what our students achieve throughout the year and give staff the opportunity to show them that their efforts most certainly do not go unnoticed. It is always one of the highlights of the college year and this year’s event was as enjoyable as ever.”
