Students and families celebrate higher achievements

10th October 2011 7:54pm - Return to press releases

Graduates and their families packed the Priory Church of St Mary in Bridlington on Saturday to celebrate the achievements of higher education students from East Riding College.
The church was full with about 400 people attending the event, which saw students presented with scrolls by Principal Derek Branton in recognition of the successful completion of their course.

The winner of the student of the year award was Jack Goodlad, 20, from Bridlington, who studied on the Foundation Degree in Sports, Exercise and Health Sciences. Jack was chosen because of the progress he made during the course and his work outside the classroom. From being unsure about whether to move up from a level three sports course to the foundation degree, he became a high-achieving student with consistently improving marks.
He carried out voluntary work with the College's football teams and was rewarded with a part-time paid position as a coach. He also earned excellent feedback as a result of two work placements he took up as part of the course. Jack is now topping up his foundation degree to an honours degree at the University of Central Lancashire.

Jack said: "I was really surprised out of all the higher education students to receive the award. I didn't expect it.
"I'm so glad I did the course because the work I did has helped me to build up my knowledge and experience in this area. The support from the lecturers really helped me to achieve,"

The ceremony opened with a welcome from David Thacker, the chair of governors at the College, and was followed by addresses from Mr Branton and Denise Robinson, director of the Consortium for Post-Compulsory Education and Training at the University of Huddersfield.
Mr Branton said: "The ceremony was an opportunity to congratulate our higher education students on their excellent achievements and to speak to them about how the qualification has helped them with their career.
"Although it is only a matter of months since they completed their courses, many who were already in work had advanced their careers because of their new qualification while others had secured new jobs with very good salaries. This demonstrates the benefits directly of people investing in their education."

Mr Thacker said: "On behalf of the East Riding College Corporation and all its staff, I would like to congratulate all of the students for their excellent achievements.
"A higher education qualification is a feather in anyone's cap and it was great to see these people celebrating their success, supported by their friends and family in Bridlington Priory." 

Higher education at East Riding College is built on partnerships with the University of Hull, the University of Huddersfield and national validating bodies.
The College runs degree, foundation degree and other higher level courses in accounting, computing, digital media, education, health and safety, health and social care, sport and recreation, teacher training and early childhood policy and practice
There are also courses called Access to Higher Education which prepare people to step up to higher education level and are especially appropriate for people who have been out of education for several years.
For more information or to request a 2012 higher education course guide, call the College on 0845 120 0037 or visit www.eastridingcollege.ac.uk, where it is possible to download one or order a hard copy.

Ends

Notes to editors

Photographs of students following the ceremony are available. For more information, call Matthew Croshaw, marketing and communications manager, on 01482 306612 or email [email protected]