Posted: 04/07/23
Students awarded and applauded at end-of-year celebrations
Four evenings of congratulations and celebrations have ended the academic year on a high at West Nottinghamshire College, as governors, teachers, students and their families enjoyed the end-of-year awards ceremonies.
-
All finalists from the awards ceremony on Monday 26 June
-
Andrew Cropley with principal's award winner Freya Anderson
-
Winning students from the ceremony on Tuesday 27 June
-
Plastering student Caroline Moor with principal Andrew Cropley
-
Proud award winners from Wednesday's ceremony
-
Linda Kiselova was proud to collect her principal's award
-
Thursday night's student winners stand proud
-
Alexander Sneade scooped a principal's award too
Joining the college’s principal and chief executive Andrew Cropley and vice principal for communications, engagement and student experience, Louise Knott, more than 280 students from all curriculum areas took to the stage after being nominated for a variety of awards.
The events were all organised by business students, who have arranged the celebrations as part of extra-curricular activities under their business name ‘The Eventors’.
Key players in the management of the events, which included purchasing trophies, booking the staging and lighting facilities, producing marketing materials and inviting nominees and VIP’s including the setting up and running of each event, were Linda Kiselova, Chandler Measures and Princes Etiosa Ogieva Ada, all 19, and Intermediate Certificate in Business students Tamanna Haque and Sorina Milos, both 17.
The awards events, which took place from Monday 26 to Thursday 29 June, were generously sponsored by the Northern Council for Further Education (NCFE), an educational charity and leader in vocational and technical learning. They were attended by a number of VIP guests including Sherwood Forest Hospitals’ director of strategy and partnerships David Ainsworth, chair of the college’s corporation board Shaun Lyons, representatives from Mansfield District Council, Ashfield District Council and Nottinghamshire County Council and many business partners that the college works with.
Principal’s awards were presented each night by principal and chief executive Andrew Cropley, to individuals whose skills, qualities and abilities to overcome a range of hurdles, outshone other students in their schools of learning. Monday’s award went to sport student Freya Anderson.
The 17-year-old from Hucknall was nominated for her immense courage and resilience during incredibly challenging times. Despite tragically losing her brother this year, she has managed to continue to attend college and keep smiling, being a true inspiration to other young people who are facing adversity. Teachers saw her engaging positively with staff and students alike and were proud to see her complete the Intermediate CIMSPA Sport and PA Practitioner qualification.
The second principal’s award was presented to Intermediate Certificate in Plastering student Caroline Moor, 39, who was nominated by tutors at the college’s construction campus. She came to college to pursue her ambition of learning a trade, after working full-time and wishing to change careers. Caroline managed to completed the course alongside her job, while ensuring her pony was fed and watered each day.
She embraced her course and took on additional practical skills, even completing her course early. Caroline also produced an impressive Union Jack flag with His Majesty King’ Charles’ crest into the design for the centre’s sponsored suppliers, OX Tools UK.
It was one of ‘The Eventors’ themselves who scooped the principal’s award on the penultimate evening of awards when 19-year-old Linda Kiselova, who studies on the Advanced Extended Diploma in Business, scooped the accolade. Linda was praised for her hard work both in her studies and on extra-curricular activities.
She was recognised for always pushing herself outside of her comfort zone, ably dealing directly with customers and presenting to large audiences with confidence. Her professionalism when working on last year’s student awards events was acknowledged as well as her role in the awards this year, producing all of the marketing materials.
Linda’s resilience was also praised as she has had some very tough personal issues to tackle throughout her studies but has always maintained a brave face and kept going.
On the final night of celebrations, which were dedicated to the many apprentices who study through the college, the principal’s award was presented to Alexander Sneade, a 21-year-old student on the Level 3 Diploma in Adult Care course. Alexander has undertaken a wide variety of training to develop his knowledge and clinical skills to support his role as a dementia practitioner at Lincoln County Hospital.
In his role he works with a wide range of health and care professionals to further their knowledge of working with individuals living with dementia. Also recognised was his courage to challenge more senior colleagues to ensure the care provided to patients is person centred and of a high standard and always in the best interests of those living with dementia.
Principal and chief executive Andrew Cropley said: “It was a joyous week of celebration, recognising the efforts and achievement of students, apprentices and our staff. It’s truly uplifting to hear the stories of our learners; how they have developed, the challenges they have overcome and what they have given back.
“The pleasure on the faces of our teachers and support staff in seeing their students receive these accolades, together with the pride shown by friends and families at hearing about the development and achievement of their loved ones is hugely nourishing. It was wonderful to stand on stage and see it all and it served as a brilliant reminder of why we chose to do what we do.”
Kim Carlin, programme area leader for business studies said: “Organising and running these events is tough work, but I am grateful for my wonderful team of students who volunteered to support. They all played a key part in ensuring the events were a success and dedicated a lot of time and effort outside of their regular college studies, learning how to overcome challenges and provide good customer service.
“Seeing the many nominees be recognised for their achievements, and the joy this brings to them each night was very rewarding and the driving factor for organising and running these events. I am very proud of how hard my students worked and enhanced their own business skills and confidence for their future employment.”
