City College Plymouth was proud to celebrate its students at their annual Student Awards on Thursday 13 June.
Hosted at the Crowne Plaza Hotel, the award ceremony is the College’s largest celebration of the successes and hard work students have achieved over the past academic year.
Take a look through our gallery from the evening here.
At City College Plymouth, we believe in recognising and celebrating the incredible achievements of our students. Each year, our Student Awards shine a light on the talent, dedication, and resilience that define our student body.
Hear some of the inspiring stories of our award-winning students as part of our Student Awards spotlight series. From innovation to perseverance, leadership to sustainability, our students have not just excelled academically but have made a lasting impact on our community. The incredible support of our employer partners have played a crucial role in helping our students reach their full potential and we’re celebrating the journeys and successes of these exceptional individuals.
Charlie is described as a young man who lights up a room, which made him a worthy winner of the Student Voice Award at our Student Awards ceremony.
His attributes are many, but in particular it was his dedication and resilience that helped him stand out from the crowd which made him the clear winner. He has made incredible progress on his English course in just six months, gaining confidence and getting everyone around him talking, whilst being fully focused on achieving his GCSE at the same time.
Babcock International sponsored the Student Voice Award, and were impressed by Charlie’s positive attitude, which they felt rubbed off on everyone around him, helping to create a positive atmosphere in anything he was involved in.
Gareth Kenward, Babcock’s Apprentice Early Years Careers Manager, told students on the night, “Charlie embodies exactly what it means to have a positive attitude, which not only serves him well, but others too.”
In recognising the hard work he has put in over the last academic year, judges praised his perseverance and knack for encouraging proactive conversations with his peers, which made Charlie outstanding both as someone who motivates others but also as a dedicated learner in his classes.
The winner of this year’s Governors’ Award has the talent and determination to go all the way to the top.
Out of the many brilliant students at City College Plymouth, Imogen won over some stiff competition to walk away with the accolade.
Diploma in Music Performance and Production student Imogen is an enormously talented and highly engaged individual who puts her heart and soul into everything she does, shining whenever she performs.
On behalf of the Chair and Board of Governors, City College Governor Victoria Pomery told the Student Awards evening audience, “Imogen is a creative person who has performed at many City College award events and is always keen to go the extra mile beyond the curriculum work. She has developed a successful music career, performing at venues across Devon and Cornwall and we are convinced that her talent will take her far.”
Around the College, she is naturally curious and positive, and whether leading a project or collaborating with classmates, Imogen’s positive energy is infectious, making her a valued role model to those around her.
Having released her debut album last year, Imogen has used social media to share her musical output and build her brand but has still found time to play a leadership role, consistently be a team player and have a positive influence on her peers.
The “amazing” attitude and ambition shown by David went a long way to helping him win the Employability Award at this year’s Student Awards ceremony.
David’s professionalism and commitment to enhancing his career led him to setting realistic goals to help him achieve his aspirations, and he has been keen to develop his skills in other areas.
Dean Bennett, Managing Director of the award’s sponsors, China Fleet Country Club, said, “David was chosen because of his progress in the workplace, where he continually showcased his leadership and teamwork skills, which has got him to the place he is now.”
David’s switch from the motor industry to Construction and Civil Engineering Management seemed like a natural progression, and he is now in his second year of studying as a Construction Quantity Surveying Technician. He has become invaluable to his employer and is looked on with pride by everyone at the College, achieving not just in classes but on assignments too.
Dean added that David’s efforts had gone beyond the classroom, helping to train a junior apprentice and thriving in their employment surroundings whilst developing new skills in his leadership role looking after the apprentice.
“He is a credit to the College,” added Dean, who heads up one of the South West’s leading country clubs, a short distance from Plymouth City Centre.
Sustainability can be all about changing hearts and minds to ensure we all play our part in securing the future of our planet.
The winner of this year’s Sustainability Award at our annual Student Awards, Holly, who studied a Foundation Diploma in Environmental Science, is a passionate believer in spreading the important message that a sustainable future is a positive future.
Holly consistently demonstrated her enthusiasm to spread the word about sustainability through her actions and has a positive impact on whatever she turns her hand to. Around campus, she is known as a game-changer when it comes to carbon literacy and supporting initiatives which protect the environment.
The Sustainability Award was sponsored by YGS Landscapes, whose Health, Safety and Training Officer, Russ Goodman, said their involvement fitted well with the company’s ethos, as they designed, installed and maintained corporate, commercial and residential spaces in the South West.
He said: “Looking after the environment in the best possible way is something of great importance and ultimately can only be something that is rewarding. Please keep up the good work, Holly!”
Holly is well known for being involved in many activities around the College, and recently joined the ‘Teach the Teacher’ initiative, another great example of what you can do when you set your mind to changing the world.
Access to HE Science and Nursing student Hannah is perseverance personified. Despite facing health challenges, she has shown exceptional resilience and an unwavering commitment to her studies.
Her remarkable ability to maintain the highest possible academic standards in the face of adversity led to her winning the Perseverance Award at the College’s Students Awards this year.
She is a young woman who radiates positivity around the College, offering support to her peers in spite of her own struggles, and is a popular student who is quick to help others when it is required of her.
In handing her the award, Mike Smith, Director and Practice Manager of award-winning construction consultancy Bailey Partnership, said Hannah was a reminder that no matter what the magnitude of the obstacles we are confronted with, we can rise to the challenge if we set our minds to it.
Mike, whose company sponsored the award, said: “Hannah embodies the spirit of seizing your identity and shaping your own path. She inspires us all to know we have the grace and power to achieve whatever we set our minds to and has maintained the highest academic standards while inspiring others along the way.”
Hannah’s journey is a powerful testament to overcoming the problems that life can throw at you, making her achievement all the more remarkable.
There were a number of fantastic nominations for the Peer Support Award at the College’s Student Awards evening. But throughout the judging process, the sponsors thought that one nomination stood out above the others, Jayden.
Peer support is where the student provides knowledge, experience, emotional or practical help to their classmates in similar situations. University Hospitals Plymouth’s Head of Resourcing and Retention, Karen Launder, said Jayden was renowned for his exceptional ‘can-do’ attitude and all-round supportive nature.
A young man who stands out in the plumbing department, Jayden sets a high bar for his peers through the consistent quality of his work combined with a proactive approach and a can-do attitude. He has worked hard to become a valued member of the classroom, developing his behavioural and practical skills to prepare himself for his next step, a plumbing Apprenticeship.
Jayden has won praise for being a supportive and respectful individual. Karen said: “Not only did he show remarkable development in both his behavioural and practical skills this year, but he also went above and beyond to help and uplift those around him.”
These efforts included Jayden helping with tasks and providing moral support when it was needed, and his overall contribution brought benefits by fostering a positive, inclusive class environment.
Volunteering is so important to us all as a society, and the people who give freely of their time are providing an invaluable service from which everyone benefits.
Some not only volunteer on any day and time of the week, but go the extra mile too. One such person is the winner of this year’s Volunteering Award at the College’s Student Awards, James.
James picked up the award because of the enthusiasm with which he tackles everything head on, adding to his skills, his qualifications in sport, lifeguarding and gym instructing, and providing himself with a firm foundation for a great future.
The sponsors of the Volunteering Award were Taurus Events, a local events company who handle a number of running events including the Plymouth Half Marathon, 10K and 5K.
Events and Partnership Executive Danial Ninnim said: “We need volunteers to make our events possible, and they improve the health and wellbeing of everyone involved.”
Daniel added that James was chosen because sport was at the heart of what he loves doing, and that he always tackled every situation with a smile on his face.
James has a very supportive nature which enriches his learning, as well as that of his peers, and excelled at customer-facing volunteering work and engaging with the wider sporting community.
Innovation is at the heart of everything we do, in education as well as the world of work.
There were some stunning examples of innovation in practice at City College’s annual Student Awards, and none more so than Charlie, who picked up this year’s Digital Innovation Award.
Extended Diploma in IT student Charlie has demonstrated a quiet courage, despite facing personal loss, and regularly turns adversity into action. He is seen as a ‘beacon of kindness’ at college, lifting spirits by simple acts such as giving out sweets in class, or helping with digital skills projects in London. Whatever he does, his selflessness shines through, making him a fantastic student and an extraordinary person.
The Digital Innovation Award was sponsored by education technology specialists C-Learning, and company director Ian Nairn told the event: “If we don’t innovate, we stand still.”
He praised Charlie for the way he’d worked collaboratively within a team setting, shown support for others and had “gone way over and above” in his work. Innovation can take many different forms, big and small, and students like Charlie could be the spark that had a significant impact on others.
Ian encouraged students to embrace innovation and to constantly think about how they could do things better and differently, and to work together wherever possible to make innovation become a reality.
