Awards recognise top student achievement

Star students from Gower College Swansea have been honoured at the 2012 Annual Awards ceremony, held in association with First Cymru.

The awards were handed out at the Brangwyn Hall on 5 July, with recipients representing every aspect of college life from art, sport and engineering to business, languages and beauty.

Popular Swansea Sound DJ Kevin Johns MBE once again hosted the evening, where students were honoured for their achievements - both academic and personal.

“Every year we hear the most incredible stories of determination, of individuals overcoming great barriers to achieve great things,” says Principal Nick Bennett. “Everyone present at the awards ceremony was truly impressed with this year’s winners, many of whom are now progressing from college into higher education, apprenticeships and employment.”

Among the winners were drama student Rosie Sheehy, who has been offered places at RADA, the Guildhall School of Music and Drama and the London Contemporary Dance School; Luke Martin, who has helped the college football squad become the first Welsh College to win the prestigious English Colleges FA Premier Cup; Sian Davies, who combines her role as a full time fire fighter with a part time plumbing course; and Jonathan New, who has been awarded ‘top candidate’ status in the UK by the NEBSOSH Health and Safety examining board.

The winner of the overall Inspirational Student of the Year award was 30-year old Lamin Bojang, who travels to Swansea from Bristol every day to study Access to Law.

“Lamin’s personality simply shines through,” say lecturer Mandy Wyn Davies. “He shows an enormous amount of dedication to his studies, keeps focus and continues to achieve great results. An ex-soldier, Lamin has adapted to civilian life with great drive and dignity and now hopes to become a lawyer.”

ENDS

Gower College Swansea gratefully acknowledges its sponsors for the 2012 Annual Student Awards: First Cymru; Stone Computers; Osteopathic Clinic at Swansea University; Gower Business Systems Ltd; Trojan Electronics; City & Guilds; Morgan Cole LLP and Harcourt Colour Print.

The full list of 2012 winners:

Faculty of Arts and Humanities
Highly Commended:
Eleri Phillips (English)
Elizabeth Bevan (French)
Owen Conibear (Art and Design)
Rhiannon Waugh (Art and Design)

Winners:
Caitlin Harris (History and Classics)
Jamie Wright (Media)

Faculty of Services to People
Highly Commended:
Julie Ann Lince (Independent Living Skills)
Samantha Rumbelow (Beauty)
Taef Ahmed (Business)
Sian Ford (Business)

Winners:
Matthew Roberts (Business Studies)
Jonathon Phillips (Public Services)

Faculty of Science, Technology, Engineering and Maths
Highly Commended:
Naomi Kitchin (Sociology)
Calum McCutcheon (Design and Technology)
Jack Phillips (Plumbing)
Joshua Sullivan (IT)

Winners:
Nadeen Khaleel (Maths and Science)
Jamie Woolcock (Digital Technology)

Business Champion / Professional Development
Winner
Jonathan New (NEBOSH)

International Student of the Year
Winner
Wazha Mabophiwa (Sports Development)

Sporting Achievement of the Year
Highly Commended
Beth Bingham (Hockey)
Scott Otten (Rugby)

Winner
Luke Martin (Football)

Performing Arts Achievement of the Year
Highly Commended
Amanda Heulin (Drama)
Joy Goldsbrough (Drama)

Winner
Rosie Sheehy (Drama)

Apprentice of the Year
Highly Commended
Liam Bracher (Plumbing)
Ashley Smith (Motor Vehicle)

Winner
Darren Crayford (Digital Technology)

Higher Education Student of the Year
Winner
Kathleen Conte (Beauty)

Adult Learner of the Year
Highly Commended
Sian Davies (Plumbing)
Debbie Whitlock (Textiles)

Winner
Lamin Bojang (Access to Law)

Tutor of the Year
Highly commended
Sian Brooks (French)
Kelly Hinder (Plumbing)

Winner
Helen Niehorster (Dyslexia Support)

14-16 Student of the Year
Winner
Tonie-Lee Maunder (Hair and Beauty programme)

Overall Gower College Swansea Student of the Year
Lamin Bojang