College students shine bright at awards night
There’s snow stopping new skiers from claiming prize
AROCHDALE college has celebrated the achievements of its students at its Further Education Awards 2022.
Hopwood Hall College and University Centre, which has campuses in Rochdale and Middleton, recognised students across all subject areas in categories such as ‘ Best Progress’ and ‘Best Achievement’.
The event, which took place at Middleton Arena last week, was the college’s first in-person ceremony since the pandemic.
Both learners and their guests packed out the venue for the glamorous ceremony that was presented by the Chair of the Corporation, Nazir Afzal OBE.
The biggest award of the night - the prestigious ‘Gold Student Star Award’ - went to Performing Arts learner Kimberley Mlalazi.
Kimberley, 18, was commended for maintaining 100% attendance and being accepted to all her first choice universities as she continues to pursue her passion for acting.
Presenting Kimberley with a star-shaped trophy, Mr Afzal highlighted how she’d overcome adversity to take the top prize.
He said: “You really can’t help but admire her dedication and determination.
“Kimberley is a great lesson to us all to keep following your dreams and to never let anything stand in your way.”
The Further Education Awards were attended by students, parents and staff, as well as a number of the college’s employer partners who had sponsored and supported the awards.
CPL Group sponsored the Business category, while MID Communications gifted two concert tickets to Haydar Ali, the winner of Best Achievement for Level 3 Business.
Seven Architecture - the design company behind the college’s new Technology Centre - sponsored the awards in Construction Trades and Engineering, while Reed sponsored the Student Star Awards.
Finally, Crystal Doors sponsored the Sustainability Awards, which is a new category that was introduced in honour of the college’s ambitions to be the guardians of their own environment, while the Queen Elizabeth Foundation provided prizes for students who had previously attended schools in Middleton.
Julia Heap, Principal and CEO of Hopwood Hall College and University Centre, said: “We were delighted to celebrate those students who have shone brightest from within an entire sea of stars at Hopwood Hall.
“Our college community is simply brimming with talent, so all the winners should feel incredibly proud to have stood out from their peers.
“I look forward to seeing those who are returning to our University Centre in September, while I know others have been accepted to other fantastic universities or have already landed the jobs they’ve been working so hard for.
“Whatever their destinations, I’ve no doubt that they’re going to go on to find so much success in the next stages of their lives!”
NOVICE skiers from a secondary school won a skiing contest after enjoying five weeks of coaching sessions.
Students from five educational establishments took part in the event, including pupils from Whitworth Community High School who won the snow sporting tournament.
The school’s participants won the team event and individually Autumn Jones was second in the girls’ individual with Katie Needham third, while Sam Young was second in the boys’ individual.
Katie, 15, said: “We had the lessons on the training slope and then the final event was on the big slope so we had to go up on the ski lift, some people fell off when they tried to get on.
“I like skiing, I have done waterskiing before and it is very cold when you land in Cowm Reservoir.
“I am really looking forward to the school skiing trip.”
Eleven pupils attended the skiing coaching sessions and nine returned to take part in the festival – the Burnley and Rossendale Secondary School Ski Competition.
Sam, 15, said: “We had to ski down the big slope and go round poles in a slalom. The fastest boys’ time was 11.7 seconds and I got down in 12.1.
“I had never skied before and only had the lessons over the five weeks.
“I will be going on the ski trip with school.”
A school skiing trip is being planned by Whitworth for next year and so for the students it was a chance to get some skills before they embark on snowy slopes.
The ski coaching and competition programme was organised by Rossendale School Sports
Partnership in partnership with Burnley School Sports Partnership at The Hill, home of Ski Rossendale and was funded by Birmingham Commonwealth Games.
It aims to help build the confidence of students that have never represented their school before and might not get the opportunity to ski outside of school.