Local students shine at NPTC awards

Newtown College students cleaned-up the honours at this year’s NPTC Group of Colleges annual awards ceremony held at Neath College recently.

The awards night is a celebration of the achievements and the dedication of all of the students and those who have gone above and beyond.The ceremony was compèred by actor and presenter, Kev Johns, who introduced the nominees and awarded the winners’ trophies. 

Winners:

Fflur Roberts (pictured receiving her award) of Llangadfan was the winner of the night’s overall award, the Chief Executive’s Award as well as Student of the Year – Catering, Agriculture and Hospitality

Fflur is currently studying Level 2 in Agriculture and her nomination by Agriculture lecturer Martin Watkin was supported by Head of School – Catering, Hospitability and Agriculture Sue Lloyd Jones, who commented that Fflur had ‘proven to be a student of great enthusiasm’.

Fflur, who earlier this year also won the Royal Welsh Agricultural Show (RWAS) Student of the Year 2019 is a fluent Welsh speaker and she aims to promote and preserve Welsh traditions and culture within the agriculture industry. 

She aims to continue local customs and help sustain and grow her family sheep and beef farm in Llangadfan.

Eleri Dowell was the winner of Student of the Year –Lee Stafford Academy of Hairdressing, Barbering and Applied Therapy 

Eleri enrolled onto the Beauty Therapy Level 2 NVQ in September 2018 and since then has progress quickly, achieving industry standards or above in all her assessments. 

Lecturers said Eleri completes all targets set on time or before completion date.  She has already taken part in competitions placing bronze in the Skills Wales competition in December 2018 and 3^rd place in the UK World Skills regional competition in June 2019.  

Theresa Latham won the Saraswati Award

The Saraswati Award is a prize was set up in 2007 as a charitable trust following a donation of £30,000 by a benefactor who wishes to remain anonymous.     

The Trust is named after the Hindu Goddess of knowledge who is celebrated by young people, particularly students, and invoked by them to achieve success in learning the arts and craft studies.

The prizes are not aimed at the academically gifted. Rather the Trust aims to recognise and reward students who have shown commitment and progress or who have overcome adversity to continue with their studies.  

Theresa Latham is on the Beauty Therapy course and has worked remarkably hard. She has impressed lecturers with her motivation and commitment to her studies and has also entered competitions getting to the final in her category of the World skills UK regional final. 

Theresa’s dream is to work on the cruise liners as a therapist and her determination to complete the course is preparing her well to work toward achieving this dream.

Lecturer Lisa Brandon said: “We are delighted that Eleri and Theresa have received student awards they have both worked so hard. It has been nice to see Eleri pleased that she has found something she loves and is very good at.

“Theresa has also demonstrated such a passion and determination to achieve all aspects of her course, she put herself forward for competitions to work to a higher standard.  We are all very proud of both the girls, what they have achieved and look forward to seeing their future endeavours.”

Liberty Cawley won Student of the Year – Health Social and Childcare Award.

Libby is currently completing the CACHE Level 3 Extended Diploma in Children’s Care, Learning and Development at Newtown College.

Libby’s lecturer Clare Bumford was delighted to hear Libby had won the award and said: “Libby is a hard working student, and alongside college she also has several part-time jobs looking after children.

“Her hard work has paid off with a recent offer for a place at Norland Nannies. We are delighted for her and wish her the best of luck going forward.”

Mark Dacey, Principal and Chief Executive of NPTC Group of Colleges, said the award ceremony was a great success and expressed his heartfelt congratulations to the all the award winners and thanked the sponsors and all involved.