Joining the college’s principal and chief executive Andrew Cropley and the executive management team, more than 160 students took to the stage for nominations for a variety of awards over three celebratory evenings.
Students from each of the college’s curriculum areas were nominated by tutors for awards in categories such as the extra mile award, most resilient and improved student, the student every teacher wants in their class, most improved student, overcoming adversity and more.
The events, which were held on Tuesday 14, Wednesday 15 and Thursday 16 June, were organised by the Level 3 Advanced Foundation Diploma Business students as part of them gaining experience with managing and organising an event. Key players in the management of the events, which included organising the purchase of trophies, booking the stage and lighting facilities and arranging guest catering, were Linda Kiselova and Princes Etiosa Ogieva Ada, both 18.
Each event was generously sponsored by the Northern Council for Further Education (NCFE), an educational charity and leader in vocational and technical learning and the awards were designed and manufactured by 18-year-old advanced manufacturing engineering student Kacey Gilberthorpe.
There were principal’s awards presented each night by principal and chief executive Andrew Cropley, which paid tribute to students whose qualities, strength and attributes stood out above and beyond all of the other worthy winners. Tuesday evening’s award went to Level 3 Beauty Therapy student Storm Reveley. Storm overcame ovarian cancer in 2021 whilst she was completing her Level 2 programme. Storm juggled online learning, being a teenager during the pandemic and intensive chemotherapy.
The 20-year-old from Nottingham has also been proactive in setting up and steering the beauty therapy team’s learning company called Meraki Beauty. Tutors wanted to celebrate Storm’s strength and resilience and their pride at her courage and hard work. Storm has now secured a job at Saks Hair and Beauty in Nottingham and continues to work with the Teenage Cancer Trust and Look Good Feel Better charity.
The second principal’s award went to 21-year-old Intermediate Painting and Decorating student Branan Brown. Branan’s tutors paid tribute to him for putting himself forward to take part in additional work outside of his coursework, even coming in on his days off to support staff and fellow students.
Branan, from Shirebrook, has never let his visual impairment stop him from undertaking tasks and his tutors describe him as “the type of student that makes teaching a pleasure.”
The third and final principal’s award of the week of celebrations was awarded to Jamsheed Noorzai. Jamsheed was nominated for his determination to do well and achieve as many qualifications as he could so he could work for the British Army once more. The 30-year-old previously worked as an interpreter for the Army while living in Afghanistan and was evacuated to the UK for his and his family’s safety after troops withdrew from the country. With four young children to provide for, Jamsheed has dealt with a lot since moving to the UK and is always striving to better himself, studying courses such as English For Speakers of Other Languages (ESOL), speaking and listening Level 2 programmes and the Entry-Level 2 Writing course.
Principal and chief executive Andrew Cropley said: “I am proud beyond words to be able to celebrate so many students’ hard work, dedication and exemplary approaches to life and studies, in one week.
“We have received so many student nominations shining the spotlight on some truly exceptional stories of success, determination and overcoming adversity. Throughout the year I’ve seen a lot of impressive work and creative minds at large in the classrooms I have visited, all of which is testament to the direction and great leadership of our teachers who frequently go over and above to help our students achieve their very best.”
Congratulations also went to the 19 college learning companies, which have been established across most curriculum areas. The learning companies provide students with additional employability skills, such as budgeting, management and planning, teamwork and marketing. The range of companies provide a variety of services to real customers and sees revenue from sales going back into each company for profit and purchasing of future supplies.
The most successful learning companies for 2022 were Vision Tours, WNC Auto and Resolve IT. Vision Tours is the brainchild of the travel and tourism department which has seen students taking on the roles of tour guides in Mansfield town. Students have successfully worked with Mansfield Townscape as part of their rejuvenation project by helping them develop a heritage trail of the local area.
The engineering curriculum’s WNC Auto team took to the stage for applause for their vehicle maintenance and repair service which they provide at the Kirkby-in-Ashfield campus. The team has seen great success with their business offering repairs on cars including brake maintenance and repair, tyre replacement and wheel balancing and tracking, exhaust repairs, suspension maintenance and repair, bulb and wiper replacement.
Finally, Resolve IT, the IT department’s PC repair company were congratulated for the success of the technology enterprise. From PC custom builds, to product creation and 3D printing, students have been supported by expert tutors to bring in an income from customers.