The outstanding effort, performance and achievements of City of Bath College students have been celebrated at their annual awards ceremony.
The Celebrating Success Awards at The Guildhall saw around 50 students from a range of different courses being praised for their accomplishments.
The audience of around 200 family, friends and guests of honour were told why each student had gone above and beyond to meet the demands of their course.
This included stories of students overcoming adversity to succeed, juggling coursework with family responsibilities and plucking up the courage to return to college years after leaving school.
Among the students receiving awards was Rachel Stroud, 43, who returned to education to “do something for herself” after her children had grown up.
The mother-of-three and grandmother-of-one won the Hospitality Workplace Learner of the Year Award as an apprentice in the kitchen at Hayesfield School.
Rachel said: “I was working in schools as a support worker but I wanted to do something different.
“I enjoyed cooking and wanted to make it my job. I needed to learn while having real-life work experience.
“It was hard at first, but with the support of the college, my employer and my family, I did it. I’m really proud of myself.”
Stefan Lomax, 20, won the Stonemasonry Student of the Year Award for his talent, dedication and being a great role model to his peers.
He self-funded his Level 2 and 3 Stonemasonry Diplomas and travelled more than 150 miles a day to college from West Wales.
The High Sheriff of Somerset’s Citizenship Award went to Charlotte Davies, 31, who is studying for a degree in social work after passing the Access to Higher Education programme.
The single mum of two, who had a difficult childhood and faced further challenges as an adult, is dedicated to being there for those in need.
She said: “I just like helping people, I like to give people the chance to better themselves and improve their lives.”
This year for the first time, there was an Award for Inspirational Teaching which was presented to Art & Design deputy head David Hyde. He was described as a “very talented and dedicated member of staff” who is “committed to artistic development.”
Matt Atkinson, City of Bath College Principal, said students had “more than qualifications” as the college equips them with entrepreneurial skills to prepare them for the world of work.
He said: “Colleges are the economic engine room of the UK economy. When you think about services needed, it makes you realise how central the college is to every citizen of Bath.
“People are very dependent on former college students in their daily lives. They make a vital contribution to the economy.”
Keynote speaker Rajal Pitroda, General Manager at Founders4Schools, urged students to continue learning, consider all possibilities and to do whatever they wanted to do.
She gave an inspirational talk about her career marketing independent films in Los Angeles and working in the Bombay movie business.
All award winners were presented with a certificate and a Bath Aqua Glass paper weight from the College’s Director of Teaching and Learning Judy Lye-Forster.
Guests of honour at the awards night on Thursday, October 23rd included Chairman of Bath and North East Somerset Council Councillor Martin Veal, Bath’s Deputy Mayor Councillor Lisa Brett and Leader of Bath and North East Somerset Council Councillor Paul Crossley.
