Outstanding students from Gower College Swansea have been honoured at the 2014 Annual Awards ceremony.
The awards were handed out at the Liberty Stadium, with recipients representing every aspect of college life from art, sport and engineering to enterprise, languages and hospitality.
Swansea Sound DJ Kevin Johns once again hosted the evening, where students were honoured for their achievements both academic and personal.
The guest speaker was Aled Sion Davies MBE, Bronze and Gold medal winner at the 2012 London Paralympics, who next month will lead Team Wales into the Commonwealth Games in Glasgow.
“The annual awards seek to celebrate students’ achievements as well as recognise everyone who played a role in their success,” says Principal Mark Jones. “Last night, we heard stories of learners achieving high grades, receiving national recognition in their chosen fields or really going the extra mile in terms of balancing family and work commitments along with their studies. All have had the most amazing learning journeys and are a credit to the college, their families and themselves.”
Among the winners were: A Level student Natalie Reeve who is heading to Cambridge in September to read English and hopefully join the Footlights Theatre Company; Level 3 Health and Social Care student Mark Saunders who combines his studies with being a carer for his mother and his sister and volunteering with a local primary school's special needs unit; Level 3 Diploma in Enterprise and Entrepreneurship student Kayleigh Rochard, who has made the brave move of setting up her own company; adult learner Helen Hall, who embraced a variety of art and craft courses with huge gusto after recovering from a serious illness; and Aneurin Donald who, at just 17, has gained entry onto the England Cricket Development Programme.
After great deliberation, the winner of the overall Inspirational Student of the Year award was named as Level 3 Extended Diploma Electrical/Electronic Engineering student Sean Sarsfield. Not only has Sean excelled in both Welsh Skills and Worldskills competitions, he also headed a student team to Stuttgart where he acted as spokesman, and won financial backing to help students manage their EMA by linking with the local credit union. In addition, Sean is a student intern for the college Enterprise team and impressed his employer so much during his recent work experience that he has been offered a full time job at the end of his course.
“A truly inspirational human being, not only an outstanding student but a tremendous role model to all young people,” is how Sean is described by his tutors.
The event was also a showcase for student talent, with entertainment being provided by Level 3 Performing Arts students who sang a selection of Stephen Sondheim songs. Staff and students from the Broadway Hair, Beauty and Holistics Centre demonstrated their hair and make-up skills and Level 3 Technical Theatre students provided the set and sound for the night.
ENDS
Gower College Swansea gratefully acknowledges its sponsors for the 2014 Annual Student Awards: Powell Dobson Architects; Kier Construction; Mark Jones; Academi Wales; WJEC; South Wales Evening Post; Oakleigh House School; Dawnus Construction Limited; AstraVia; Harcourt Colour Print; Swansea Osteopathic Clinic; The Kukri Clubhouse; Tong Fang Global; Swansea Sound and The Wave; First Cymru Buses Ltd; Kevin Green; Sinocampus UK Ltd; Morgan Cole; Carillion; Bailey Partnership; UoWTSD and South Wales Transport (Neath) Ltd.
The full list of 2014 Students of the Year:
Creative Arts – Natalie Reeve
Visual Arts – Luke Grey
ABE/ESOL – Gonzalo Silvestre
Humanities and Languages – Holly Allen
Maths, Science and Social Science – Katy Surman
Technology – Thomas Ball
Health and Care – Mark Saunders
Business – Daniel Folayan
Hair and Beauty – Keiron Burgess
Hospitality, Travel and Tourism – Kewalin Bugg
Independent Living Skills – Jacob Lucas
Sport and Public Services – Angharad Jenkins
Engineering – Sean Sarsfield
GCS Training – Gwyn Thomas / Sarah Slade
Apprentice – Kayleigh Palfreyman
Enterprise – Kayleigh Rochard
International - Prabhdeep Singh Sra
Welsh Language – Kayleigh Jones
14-16 – Scott Fry
Adult Learner – Helen Hall
Higher Education / Access - Rebecca Morris
Outstanding Sports Achievement - Aneurin Donald
Student Leadership – Molly Davies-Briskham
Special Recognition Award – Hengoed Court Care Home
Most Inspirational Student of the Year – Sean Sarsfield
Photos: A Frame Photography