Students rewarded for hard work and diligence
Hard work and diligence were rewarded when West Suffolk College held its annual prize-giving ceremony on Monday evening.
St Edmundsbury Cathedral hosted the event, where more than 60 prizes were handed out to students nominated by tutors at the Bury St Edmunds-based college.
Principal Dr Ann Williams opened the ceremony. She said: "Now, at a time of so much bad news, doom and gloom, I would like to share some good news."
Among those to take to the stage was Queenie Waterman, 17, of Walsham-le-Willows, who won the Certificate of Excellence for media production. She said: "It feels really good to win this. I didn't expect it at all and it was nice to see that my work has been appreciated."
Mother-of-two Amanda Ellis, 44, of Woolpit, won The LSC Prize, which rewards outstanding dedication and perseverance. She has been on a one-year access course in health and social care and is planning to continue her studies through a degree at University Campus Suffolk.
"The course has been hard work but good fun. I was really surprised to win the award as there were a lot of people who deserved it," she said.
Ronaldo Gonzales, of Bury, won the Governors' Prize, given for achievement through determination in difficult circumstances, after passing a one-year access course in health and social care, despite English not being his first language – Ronaldo was born in the Phillipines. He also managed to combine his studies with a full-time job at North Court Residential Home, in Bury. "It has been difficult for me because the way of teaching is very different to what I was used to – but I managed it," he said.
The Suffolk Youth and Connexions Service Award was handed to Mercedes Sibley, who also won a Big Skill Award from the Learning and Skills Council last month.
Guest speaker was Godfrey Spanner, chief executive of Onslow Suffolk Ltd, which is developing the SnOasis winter sports complex, in Great Blakenham.
He said: "When it opens in 2013, it will be the end of a 12-year fight. We still don't have the final planning permission we need, but I am confident we'll have it within two months and then start work next year."
During construction, around 2,500 workers will be employed on the site and when it opens, 2,000 staff will be needed.
"The remarkable truth is that every person here could or would find a career at SnOasis," he added.
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Weather for Bury St Edmunds
Wednesday 08 February 2012
Today
Cloudy
Temperature: -2 C to 0 C
Wind Speed: 14 mph
Wind direction: North east
Tomorrow
Cloudy
Temperature: -1 C to 1 C
Wind Speed: 6 mph
Wind direction: North east
