Celebrating our annual Learner Awards with Welsh sports presenter Jason Mohammad

Yesterday, we held our annual learner awards event – a celebration of all our inspirational learners and their achievements throughout the academic year. As a college, we like to recognise effort, commitment and hard work, and reward exceptional achievements as learners make it to their goals. So as the academic year draws to a close, we took the opportunity to celebrate our learners’ dedication to their studies with inspiring Welsh sports presenter, Jason Mohammad.

Nominations for the 2022 learner awards were made online by tutors and staff across the college, either for most improved learner, overcoming adversity or outstanding achievements. We received over 450 nominations this year, a testament to our incredible learners and their resilience and determination to succeed.

To receive an award, learners may have overcome adversity, displayed a positive attitude or exceptional talent, or turned failure into success. The nominations were whittled down to 89 Learner Achievement Award winners across the three schools at Coleg Gwent. Five learners were also selected for special recognition awards, with three being awarded the Faculty Director Awards for progress made during their studies, one receiving the Chair’s Award for overcoming adversity, and one winning the Principal’s Award for outstanding performance.

Vice Principal Nikki Gamlin said, “We’re enormously proud of our learners’ achievements and of the talented and hard-working team of staff who support our learners in achieving great things.”

With a special guest appearance from motivational speaker Jason Mohammad, and performances from our talented learners and musical theatre students, the awards evening was a night to remember. It highlighted the exceptional talent of our learners and their resilience during a challenging year. Despite disrupted lessons, working remotely and the uncertainty around assessments and exams, our learners have proven how adaptable and committed they are to achieving their goals.

The pandemic has taught us many things about meeting our challenges head on and it has shown us that if we put our minds to it, we can achieve anything and make it to our goals. So, congratulations to all our winners and award nominees – you inspire us every day!

Congratulations to all our winners

Faculty Director’s Awards – Mia Vaughn, Toby Collins and Victoria Blanks

Chair’s Award – Isabelle Marshall

Principal’s Award – Danni Haynes

Faculty of Creative and Technical Studies

Engineering Achievement Award

• Blaenau Gwent Learning Zone – Tyler Davies | Crosskeys – Jayden Harris and Jay Garrett | Newport – Adam Need

Motor Vehicle Achievement Award

• Blaenau Gwent Learning Zone – Victor Owen Muema | Crosskeys – Courtney Williams | Newport – Ethan Palmer

Construction Achievement Award

• Blaenau Gwent Learning Zone – Luke Topping | Newport – Joshua Evans

Building Services Achievement Award

• Blaenau Gwent Learning Zone – Liam Haddow | Newport – Iestyn Sansom

Art & Design Achievement Award

• Blaenau Gwent Learning Zone – Lowri Green | Crosskeys – Esther Taylor | Newport – April Shakesheff | Torfaen Learning Zone – Kyle Passaro

Media Achievement Award

• Blaenau Gwent Learning Zone – Michael Tranter Owens | Crosskeys – Ryan Williams and Toby Collins | Newport – Joshua Loder | Torfaen Learning Zone – Megan Marshall

Music Achievement Award

• Blaenau Gwent Learning Zone – Dylan Bell | Crosskeys – Charlotte Francis

Performing Arts Award

• Crosskeys – Logan Walker

Skills Achievement Award

• Maths – George Barnes | English – Maeson Matthews -Smith

Faculty of Care and Community Studies

Childcare Achievement Award

• Blaenau Gwent Learning Zone – Millie Clarke | Crosskeys – Charlotte Smith | Newport – Calyse Davies | Torfaen Learning Zone – Jennifer McCarthy

Health and Social Care Achievement Award

• Blaenau Gwent Learning Zone – Danni Haynes | Crosskeys – Mafaza Ali | Newport – Rhian Edwards | Torfaen Learning Zone – Muhammad Hassan

Independent Living Skills Achievement Award

• Blaenau Gwent Learning Zone – Jamie White | Crosskeys – Dane Hussey | Newport – Shaun Davies | Torfaen Learning Zone – David Hollis

Hairdressing Achievement Award

• Blaenau Gwent Learning Zone – Aleshia Lane | Crosskeys – Sophie Keevil-Morgan | Newport – Harriet Moxley

Beauty Achievement Award

• Blaenau Gwent Learning Zone – Jade Cray | Newport – Ellie Witch

Theatrical Make-Up Achievement Award

• Crosskeys – Tiana Roberts

ESOL Achievement Award

• Newport – Ali Abbasi

Hospitality Achievement Award

• Crosskeys – Joshua Williams

Travel & Tourism Achievement Award

• Crosskeys – Bethany Hodson

Science Achievement Award

• Newport – Ann Matti | Torfaen Learning Zone – Nethan Llewellyn

Access Achievement Award

• Blaenau Gwent – Junping Huo | Newport – Laura Hazlewood | Torfaen Learning Zone – Victoria Blanks

Skills Achievement Award

• Maths – Ali Abassi | English – Bethany Newman

Welsh Language Award

• Ethan Howells

Faculty of Enterprise and Academic Studies

AS Level Achievement Award

• Blaenau Gwent Learning Zone Christina Williams and Adele Hope | Crosskeys Isabelle Marshall and Ffion Rendall | Torfaen Learning Zone Liam Davies and Maddy Groves

A Level Achievement Award

• Blaenau Gwent Learning Zone – Eleanor James and Morgan Watts | Crosskeys – Daniel Greenway | Torfaen Learning Zone – Ella Grundy and Nell Bridges

National Diploma in Science

• Crosskeys – Carys Nash

Business Achievement Award

• Blaenau Gwent Learning Zone – Casey Davies | Crosskeys – Cherry Christmas | Newport – Saddam Hasan | Torfaen Learning Zone – Jamie Thomas

Computing Achievement Award

• Blaenau Gwent Learning Zone – Mia Bird | Crosskeys – Tan Gilmour | Newport – Mohammad Ahmed | Torfaen Learning Zone – Josh Tozer

Sport Achievement Award

• Blaenau Gwent Learning Zone – Katie Young | Crosskeys – Natalia Barnes | Torfaen Learning Zone / Usk – Phatcharee Phimpho

Public Services Achievement Award

• Blaenau Gwent Learning Zone – Connor Backhouse | Crosskeys – Mia Vaughn | Torfaen Learning Zone / Usk – Kieran Matthews

Animal Care Achievement Award

• Usk – Cadee Lewis

Vet Nursing Achievement Award

• Usk – Chelsea Bunney

Equine Achievement Award

• Usk – Nina Pryce

Access Achievement Award

• Blaenau Gwent – Caitlyn Buffrey | Crosskeys – Daniel Biggs | Newport – Aimee Lancaster

Skills Achievement Award

• Maths – Rhys Tucker | English – Keith Laing

Welsh Language Award

• Jacob Hooper