Castleford College and Wakefield College ended the year on a high with a prestigious awards ceremony acknowledging its students’ achievements.
Learners and their loved ones, College staff, award sponsors and Governors, gathered on Monday 12th December at Castleford College as part of its Student Awards Ceremony.
Sam Wright, Principal and Chief Executive at the Heart of Yorkshire Education Group, began the evening by welcoming guests and congratulating the students for their academic and personal achievements during their studies.
Sam said: “Our Student Awards Ceremony is always a special occasion, giving us the opportunity to acknowledge the hard work and determination of our students alongside their loved ones, as well as the tutors who helped to inspire, enthuse and support them to achieve their full potential. Many of our award winners tonight have progressed on to Higher Education including to Russell Group Universities, into employment, or have used their qualification to enhance their prospects, and we’re incredibly proud to see this. “We’re also delighted to be joined by our employer partners who have generously sponsored the awards, which I know is greatly appreciated by our winners,” added Sam.
11 awards were presented throughout the evening across a range of areas, including the Gideon Schreier Bursary Award in Construction and the Institute of Engineering and Technology Prize for Student Excellence.
Recognising the achievements of A Level learners and English and Mathematic students, the Walshaw awards pay tribute to both the highest achieving students and the most improved.
Les Walshaw, who sponsored the award, taught Mathematics at the College in the late 80s and early 90s and enjoyed working with its gifted Mathematicians. When he died, he left the College a substantial amount of money which has been invested to secure annual awards for students in Mathematics.
The Head of A Levels for the Group, as well as Curriculum Heads for Construction, Engineering and Mathematics, took to the stage to announce the Award winners and why they had been nominated, before they were presented with their accolades by Andrew McConnell OBE, Chair of Governors at the Heart of Yorkshire Education Group.
Precious Obiasogu, who was awarded the Walshaw Accolade for the Most Improved Student at Advanced Level Mathematics, said: “I feel honoured to receive this award and for my hard work to be recognised. My tutors always told me that the sky is the limit and with their support, I was able to push myself and achieve the grades that I wanted. I’m now studying Pharmacy at the University of Manchester and I’m looking forward to seeing where this takes me.”