Posted: 12/06/15
Construction students congratulated
More than 40 students on construction-related courses at West Nottinghamshire College have been congratulated for their successes and achievements over the past year.
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Julian Walden welcomes guests including students, staff and employer partners
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Guest of honour Simon Meadows from CAGE North Notts addresses the audience
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Students of the Year receive their accolades from Simon Meadows
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Andreas Koullapis was delighted at winning the Award for Endeavour
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Paul Burton from sponsor Crown Trade Paints with painting and decorating winners
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Students proudly display their certificates and trophies, joined by Simon Meadows
A special awards ceremony was held at the college's £7.2 million state-of-the-art construction centre in Kirkby-in-Ashfield earlier this week (Tuesday 9 June, 2015) in an end-of-year finalé to their studies.
It saw students and apprentices receive a total of 64 awards and certificates in front of proud family, friends and employers for achieving excellence on their courses, triumphing in skills competitions and overcoming adversity.
Awards were presented by guest of honour Simon Meadows, chairman of the Construction Action Group of Employers (CAGE) North Nottinghamshire, to students on a range of full and part-time courses including brickwork, carpentry and joinery, painting and decorating, plumbing, plastering, electrical installations, and construction and the built environment.
Student of the Year Awards went to Joshua Tideswell, 17, from Mansfield (brickwork), Ben Talbot, 19, from Shirebrook (carpentry and joinery), Stefan Hubble, 25, from Edwinstowe (painting and decorating), Andreas Koullapis, 17, from Sutton-in-Ashfield (electrical installations), Stephen Armstrong, 41, from Kirkby-in-Ashfield, (plumbing), and Joshua Dennis, 18, from Nottingham (construction and the built environment), while 35-year-old Stuart Peach, from Edwinstowe, picked up the plastering British Gypsum Learner of the Year award.
Andreas was awarded two further accolades on the night, after being named best full-time learner on the Level 2 Electrical Installations course, as well as scooping the annual Award for Endeavour for excelling in his studies despite having profound hearing difficulties.
The audience heard that Andreas joined college as a shy young man who found it difficult to engage with students and staff. But, with the support of sign-language staff and tutors, his confidence grew and he now regularly takes the lead in practical sessions as well as supporting other students.
Guests were told Andreas had achieved a distinction in his final exam and he had excelled on his work placement with Haynes Electrical Services, Mansfield Woodhouse.
Head of construction and building services, Julian Walden, said: “The evening gave us a wonderful opportunity to recognise the hard work, dedication and commitment of all our learners in achieving their goals while also thanking those who have supported them on their journey, from family and friends to tutors.
“It represented the culmination of a fantastic year that has seen students develop and grow as individuals while gaining the all-important skills and qualifications to be successful in industry.
“We wish those students completing their studies all the best in their chosen careers and look forward to welcoming back our returning students in September as they embark on the next stage of their vocational learning.”
The event was supported by a range of industry specialists including British Gypsum, City Electrical Factors, Crown Trade Paints, F.G. Walton – The Plumbing Centre, John A. Stephens Ltd, Juice Electrical Supplies, Pegler Yorkshire, and PROTRADE.
