‘SHANE HAD A REAL PERSEVERANCE TO ACHIEVE, REGARDLESS OF WHAT IT WAS HE NEEDED TO DO...’
College honours talented young artist with award named after him
A 20-YEAR-OLD student who died from a bleed on the brain is to be remembered at his former college with an award set up in his name.
Shane Dineen will tonight become the first recipient of the prize when it is given to him posthumously by Stoke-on-trent Sixth Form College.
His family have been invited to accept it on his behalf as part of the college’s annual awards evening, which is being held online due to the pandemic.
The Shane Dineen Memorial Prize will go on to be awarded each year to a student who excels in creative and digital arts.
A talented young artist himself, he had achieved an A-level in art and a BTEC in graphics last summer. Shane then moved on to Staffordshire University, where he had thrown himself wholeheartedly into a fine art degree.
The normally fit and healthy student had just completed his first term when he collapsed at his Bentilee home and was taken to Royal Stoke. Doctors discovered he had a bleed on the brain and he passed away in hospital this year.
Shane’s organs were donated and helped save the lives of five other critically ill patients.
Now his old college hopes to keep his memory alive through the new award. Kim Finn, curriculum manager for creative and digital arts, came up with the idea after teaching Shane and seeing his enthusiasm shine through.
He had initially joined the college to retake some of his GCSES through a foundation programme, which included GCSE art.
Kim recalled how he showed ‘grit, commitment and character’ and soon discovered his talents.
“Shane was a hard worker and had a real perseverance to achieve, regardless of what he needed to do or how long it would take him,” she said.
“He was always in the department working, whether adding and developing his drawing to his art sketchbook or tweaking digital designs on Photoshop and Illustrator. Shane was helpful – in both the department and with his classmates. He always supported the team at open events, informing new students and parents about art and design courses. And he was course representative for his class, sharing his classmates’ thoughts, ideas and suggestions with staff.
“Kind, caring, helpful and resilient, Shane was a pleasure to have within creative and digital arts, and we were proud of his achievements and progression to university in September last year.
“As a department and college, we have tremendous respect and pride for young people like Shane who join us with few GCSES, but are determined and resilient to do their absolute best.”
Shane’s mum Vicky
Scott also praised her son, describing him as a ‘lovable, chatty, pleasant hardworking boy’. “He was studying fine art and he was thoroughly enjoying it,” she added.
This evening’s awards event will also see 54 other awards given students to mark their achievements and hard work.