Celebrating our annual Learner Awards with Ollie Ollerton

The Learner Awards Ceremony serves as a platform to celebrate the exceptional achievements of Coleg Gwent’s learners

Our annual Learner Awards Ceremony was held yesterday, celebrating inspirational learners and their achievements over the past academic year.

The event which centred around the theme of well-being recognised the commitment, dedication and exceptional achievements shown by our learners.

Channel 4’s SAS: Who Dares Wins star Ollie Ollerton addressed the audience with a ‘Just do today’ message to celebrate our learners’ dedication. He gave learners an insight into his personal story and encouraged the learners to embrace discomfort. He also told them how to implement a daily success strategy and tips for managing mental health.

The Learner Awards Ceremony serves as a platform to celebrate the exceptional achievements of Coleg Gwent’s learners. The event highlights the dedication and hard work these remarkable individuals have demonstrated in their studies, extracurricular activities, and communities.

To receive an award, a learner may have overcome adversity, displayed a positive attitude or exceptional talent, or turned a failure into a success.

There were over 420 nominations this year, a testament to our incredible learners and their resilience and determination to succeed. The nominations were whittled down to 95 Learner Achievement Award winners across the three faculties at Coleg Gwent. Five learners were also selected for special recognition awards.

Mari Copner, Kristian Ofsteng and Cariad Manuel were awarded the Faculty Director Awards for progress made during their studies. Demi Fellows received the Chair’s Award for overcoming adversity, and Honey Hughes won the Principal’s Award for outstanding performance.

Vice Principal Nikki Gamlin said:

“We’re so proud of our learners’ achievements once again this year. Our learners continue to prove to us how adaptable and committed they are to achieving their goals. I also want to thank the talented and hard-working team of staff who support our learners in achieving remarkable things. Congratulations to all our winners and award nominees – you inspire us every day.”

The 2023 Learner Awards Ceremony took place on Thursday 22 June at The ICC Wales.

Winners

Faculty Director’s Awards – Mari Copner, Kristian Ofsteng, Cariad Manuel

Chair’s Award – Demi Fellows

Principal’s Award – Honey Hughes

Faculty of Creative and Technical Studies

Aerospace Engineering Achievement Award

Blaenau Gwent Learning Zone – Muza Adam

Electrical Engineering Achievement Award

Crosskeys – Benjamin Joyce

Engineering Achievement Award

Newport – Adam Bennett

Mechanical Engineering Achievement Award

Crosskeys – Jack Wilkins

Motorsport Engineering Achievement Award

Blaenau Gwent Learning Zone – Mark Taylor

Motor Vehicle Engineering Achievement Award

Blaenau Gwent Learning Zone – Zac Smith / Crosskeys – Abigail Allen / Newport – Nicky Stinchcombe

Multi skills Achievement Award

Blaenau Gwent Learning Zone – Deacon Parsons / Newport – Shanice Aspell

Construction Achievement Award

Blaenau Gwent Learning Zone – Emma Hutchinson / Newport – TJ Winmill

Building Services Achievement Award

Blaenau Gwent Learning Zone – Joseph Bennett / Newport – Adrian Bucik

Electrical Services Achievement Award

Newport – Charlie Watts

Games Design Achievement Award

Crosskeys – Aaron Jones

E-sports Achievement Award

Blaenau Gwent Learning Zone – Miles Pearce

Art & Design Achievement Award

Blaenau Gwent Learning Zone –James Thompson / Crosskeys – Ace Simpson-Rogers / Newport – Kristian Ofsteng / Torfaen Learning Zone – Rhiannon Jarman

Media Achievement Award

Crosskeys – Bradley Turner / Newport – Amber Ajaz

Music Achievement Award

Blaenau Gwent Learning Zone – Ally Garcia / Crosskeys – Charlotte Francis

Performing Arts Award

Crosskeys – Matthew Evans

Skills Achievement Award

• Math’s – Crosskeys – Daisy Wanjiru
• English – Crosskeys – Zoe Ann Shaw

Faculty of Care and Community Studies

Childcare Achievement Award

Blaenau Gwent Learning Zone – Olena Miroshychenko / Crosskeys – Olivia Rice / Newport – Kateryna Harbar / Torfaen Learning Zone – Cariad Manuel

Health and Social Care Achievement Award

Blaenau Gwent Learning Zone – Libby Bishop / Crosskeys – Chloe Houghton / Newport – Levi McKinley / Torfaen Learning Zone – Dewi Fellowes

Independent Living Skills Achievement Award

Blaenau Gwent Learning Zone – Sophie Laing / Crosskeys – Nicole Lawless / Newport – Logan McCarthy-Rowles / Torfaen Learning Zone – Courtney Bennett

Hairdressing Achievement Award

Blaenau Gwent Learning Zone – Aleshia Lane / Crosskeys – Chantelle Gleed / Newport – Lynette Yates

Beauty Achievement Award

Blaenau Gwent Learning Zone – Nooria Nazari / Crosskeys – Dylan Taylor / Newport – Asiya Shehzad

Hospitality Achievement Award

Crosskeys – Clark Parry

Travel & Tourism Achievement Award

Crosskeys – Eliza Thomas

ESOL Achievement Award

Newport – Liudmyla Drobchenko

Science Achievement Award

Newport – Vania Bandani / Torfaen Learning Zone – Tyler Morton

Access Achievement Award

Blaenau Gwent Learning Zone – Holly Davies / Crosskeys – Laura Treasure / Newport – Abigail Patrick / Torfaen Learning Zone – Melanie McCann

Skills Achievement Award

• Math’s – Madison James
• English – Gemma Lixton

Welsh Language Award

Alyssa Gunter

Enterprise and Academic Studies

AS Level Achievement Award

Blaenau Gwent Learning Zone – Mari Copner, Meng-ji Chen / Crosskeys – Jed Watkins, Janice Ambati / Torfaen Learning Zone – Leon Hopkins, Oliver Brunnock Cook

A Level Achievement Award

Blaenau Gwent Learning Zone – Christina Williams, Millie Takel / Crosskeys – Honey Hughes / Torfaen Learning Zone – Julia Marszalek, Francesca Dare

National Diploma in Science

Crosskeys – Ella Jones

Business Achievement Award

Blaenau Gwent Learning Zone – Chloe Pope / Crosskeys – Ryan Warlow / Newport – Thomas Brehony / Torfaen Learning Zone – Afshin Salehi-Reyhani

Computing Achievement Award

Blaenau Gwent Learning Zone – Thomas Thompson / Crosskeys – Daniel Kinsey / Newport – Jay Hale / Torfaen Learning Zone – Elliot Pope

Sport Achievement Award

Blaenau Gwent Learning Zone – Daisy Shaw/ Crosskeys – Shannon Jones / Torfaen Learning Zone – Dylan Bull

Public Services Achievement Award

Blaenau Gwent Learning Zone – Imran Bashir / Crosskeys – Jamie Twigg / Torfaen Learning Zone – Jake Wicks

Health and Fitness Achievement Award

Usk – Jamie Woods

Animal Care Achievement Award

Usk – Molly Bath

Vet Nursing Achievement Award

Usk – Jamie Price

Equine Achievement Award

Usk –Saskia Murphy

Access Achievement Award

Blaenau Gwent Learning Zone – Kira Jeremiah / Newport – Morgan Cook

Skills Achievement Award

• Math’s – Abdallah Ahmed
• English – Toby Forward 

Welsh Language Award

Imran Bashir

For more information on Coleg Gwent, visit: www.coleggwent.ac.uk