Posted on 13 December 2011
Record success was celebrated by Guildford College Group last week in a Graduation and Achievement Ceremony with former England rugby player and Strictly Come Dancing star Austin Healey.
Opening the ceremony, held at Guildford’s new theatre G Live, Principal Dr David Collins CBE congratulated students on a record-breaking year for success across the Group. “At A Level, for example, pass rates exceeded 99% and of the degrees and HNDs and HNCs represented here tonight no less than 16 had a 100% pass rate in areas as diverse as Animal Management and Behaviour and Childhood Studies.”
Looking to the future, Dr Collins said: “Despite the present gloom and doom, the recession and the possible collapse of the Euro, this is still a great country with people who achieve remarkable things.”
Award-winners and graduates ranged from ages 16 to 60 and included students of dozens of different nationalities.
Hayley Garland’s first class degree in Early Childhood Studies was gained while working for 40 hours a week in a job. The 21-year-old won the Sarah Povey Award for Excellence in Childcare. “There was a point when I felt I was never going to get there but it’s all worth it now,” said Hayley. “The support of the college was wonderful and I don’t feel I missed out on university. When I compare myself to my peers, I have come out on top because I already have a job at a primary school and I don’t have huge debts.”
Described by his tutor as “a unique, outstanding distinction student”, Marten Penrose combined studying for the Countryside Management National Diploma at Merrist Wood College with being a single parent to his two sons, one of whom has cerebral palsy. Marten, who has only one arm, won the Wildlife and Conservation Student of the Year title.
Sarah Chettle, 23, Merrist Wood College’s Equine Management Graduate of the Year, worked while studying and scored distinctions in all her second year HND modules. She left behind a marketing career to pursue a dream of running an equestrian centre and stud for Arabian horses.
“Wow, what a great surprise,” said Magiliced Sarria-Torres, whose family is from Colombia, when she heard she had won the Hair and Beauty Student of the Year award. The 17-year-old started her course at the College while studying for other GCSEs at school and hopes to follow in the footsteps of her sister, who runs a salon in London’s West End.
Selma Costa, 35, from Brazil, fought morning sickness in the classroom as she studied for her foundation degree. The Travel and Tourism Graduate of the Year was rewarded with the birth of her second son as well in August as an overall merit in her degree.
Sixteen-year-old Jay Knight is already on his way to a career in electrical installation after studying at college while also completing GCSEs at school. The 14-16 Student of the Year said: “A lot of my family are electricians and it always interested me so I wanted to get ahead. By the time I leave school I will almost be qualified.”
Two mothers for whom education helped rebuild a new life after marriage breakdown are Counselling Graduate of the Year Joanne Everson and Access to Higher Education Student of the Year Michelle Harrild. Joanne, 41, achieved her first class honours BA in Counselling without compromising her role as a parent. Her daughter Emily, aged 9, said; “Mummy did it so well. She tried to get all her work done before we came home from school so she always had time for us.”
Michelle, 38, who hopes to do a nursing degree at the University of Surrey, embarked on study to give her young daughter a better future. “I had no self-esteem when I started but I’m a different person now,” she said.
In a speech which took a light-hearted look at his career, Austin Healey said he had been expelled from school but had gained a new purpose in life after a serious discussion with his father. He said: “It takes courage but you can achieve anything; it’s about getting in first and doing your best. I lived in a land of giants and I’m not a giant but I achieved and so can you.”
Other Graduates of the Year from Guildford College are: Bernice Simcox, Christopher Beare, Timothy Aldridge, Karen Blight, Prashant Gurung, Susannah Taylor, Samuel Clarke, Christopher Lloyd and Bonnie Holloway. Other Guildford College Students of the Year are Alex Gray, Anna Saunders, Natasia Szagun, Dean Hawkins, Amy Walker, Kali Dicks, Kudakwashe Kamoto and Chelsea Cook.
The Apprentices of the Year are David Green and Stephanie Douglas.
Other Merrist Wood College Students of the year are Sally Curren, Kevin Robertson, Briony Howe, Nathan Richards, Adam Smith and Sam Wilson.
Farnham Sixth Form College’s Students of the Year are Tegan Creedy and Alex Hall.
The award sponsors include RSM Tenon, Stevens & Bolton LLP, Churchouse Financial Planning, Royal Caribbean International, Pabulum, Academy of Contemporary Music, the family of Sarah Povey, Golfing in Style, Lloyds Bank Corporate Markets, Surrey Wildlife Trust, Total AV Control, Institute for Learning, MHA MacIntyre Hudson, Supreme Petfoods, Surrey Chambers of Commerce, 96.4 Eagle Radio, Guildford College Group Corporation, Merrist Wood Equine Arena and Old Farnhamians’ Association.
Entertainment at the ceremony was provided by The General - a band from ACM - and Farnham College A Level Student of the Year Tegan Creedy, who sang.