Radio 1 DJ and Strictly Come Dancing Star Scott Mills honoured Uxbridge College students for their achievements at an awards night.
Successful students included overall winner Duncan Crouchman (19), who received the Super Star prize, sponsored by Lloyds Bank, Commercial. Described as an ‘honourable character’, Duncan was chosen for setting the gold standard for behaviour and achievement with his support to others and commitment to his academic studies. Having completed a BTEC Level 3 Business qualification and achieving maximum grades, he is now starting a degree in Events Management at Buckinghamshire New University.
Achievers of all ages celebrated with friends, family and staff at the Annual Awards Ceremony held on 17 September, at The Beck Theatre in Grange Road, Hayes. The winners were chosen from among our 8,000+ full-time and part-time learners.
Special guest Scott Mills is known for his award-winning weekday radio show on BBC Radio 1, loved for his appearances on Strictly Come Dancing, and has commentated on the Eurovision Song Contest. He also trekked across the Kaisut Desert for Comic Relief with celebrities including Dermot O’Leary, Lorraine Kelly and Olly Murs.
Scott talked about his life and presented the awards, as well as meeting students afterwards. He spoke about his radio and media career, charting his earliest experiences of pretending to DJ in his bedroom at the age of 8, sending out unsuccessful demo tapes, working the graveyard slot in local radio, eventually getting a job at Radio 1 where he went on to take over from Sara Cox’s early evening slot.
Principal of Uxbridge College, Laraine Smith OBE, said: “Tonight’s award ceremony is particularly special as it marks the start of Uxbridge College’s Golden Anniversary year, and I would like to congratulate all our winners. Their stories are humbling and inspiring and remind us all about what can be achieved through education. At Uxbridge College we want all our learners to have the best chance possible to meet their bigger goals in life, and our award winners are all success stories.
Star and Special Award winners were:
THE ACADEMY
Star Award: Ryan Porter
The Gavin Taylor Bursary Award:
Winner: Amy Smith
Highly Commended: Manvir Mann
SCHOOL OF BUSINESS
Super Star Award (Sponsored by Lloyds Bank, Commercial) and Star Award (Sponsored by Chartwells): Duncan Crouchman
Higher Education Award (Sponsored by the University of Hertfordshire): Akshay Vaja
SCHOOL OF COMPUTING & INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY
Star Award: Cynera Crasto
Higher Education Award: Mohamad Zahid Sanjania
SCHOOL OF CREATIVE STUDIES
Star Award: Shaun Jackson
Ian Hebditch Award: Jason Johnson
SCHOOL OF EARLY YEARS, HEALTH AND SOCIAL CARE
Star Award (Sponsored by Buckinghamshire New University): Ramatoulaye Diallo
SCHOOL OF ENGINEERING (Mechanical & Electronics)
Star Award (Sponsored by Ultra Electronics SONAR SYSTEMS): Sean Lynch
Higher Education Award (Sponsored by Brunel University London): Qasim Humayoun
SCHOOL OF ENGINEERING (Technology & Innovation)
Star Award (Sponsored by Nexen Petroleum UK Ltd): Flavius-Andrei Avram
SCHOOL OF ESSENTIAL SKILLS AND LEARNING SUPPORT
English Language Teaching
Star Award: Hashem Alhaj Ali
Foundation Studies
Star Award: Samantha Demascio
SCHOOL OF HAIR, BEAUTY AND HOSPITALITY
Star Award (Sponsored by Dennis Williams Ltd): Maria Price
Comfort Simoyan Award (Sponsored by Dennis Williams Ltd): Menalu Coppin
SCHOOL OF SPORT, TRAVEL AND PUBLIC SERVICES
Star Award: Jack Taylor
David Keating Memorial Award: Benn Leo
TEACHER EDUCATION & CONTINUING PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT
Star Award: Eloise Newman
EMPLOYERS AND APPRENTICES
Intermediate Apprentice Award (Sponsored by the Hillingdon Chamber of Commerce):
Chaimya Vacher Fontaine
Advanced Apprentice Award (Sponsored by the Hillingdon Chamber of Commerce):
Ellis Nimmo
Apprentice Employer Award: Royal Opera House
Work Experience Employer Award: Imagine Spa Thames Valley