Students and families celebrate higher achievements
31st October 2012 11:19am - Return to press releases
Graduates and their families packed the Priory Church of St Mary in Bridlington 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 Emma Redhead, 22, from Hull, who studied on the Foundation Degree in Computing. Emma enrolled from school as part of the software apprenticeship scheme the College runs with BAE Systems.
She earned the award for the excellent standard of work and progress made during the course and her infectious enthusiasm.
Emma has now moved on to complete the third year and gain her full honours degree in computer science, and for her final project is looking at ways to teach programming in a fun way to the next generation of young programmers in junior schools.
She said: “It was a real surprise to win the award and I’m proud to have received it. I’m now looking to complete my degree and hopefully secure a job with BAE Systems.”
The ceremony opened with a welcome from David Thacker, the chair of governors at the College, and was followed by addresses from Derek 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 demonstrate how their qualifications are already helping them with their careers.
"It was an enjoyable family occasion and we heard from many graduates that their new qualifications had supported them to advance in their jobs or find new employment opportunities, which is exactly what these courses are designed for.”
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 degrees, foundation degrees and higher national certificates and diplomas in a wide range of subjects, as well as various teacher training courses.
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 2013 higher education course guide, call the College on 0845 120 0037 or visit www.eastridingcollege.ac.uk
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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]