On Thursday 14th September, Richmond upon Thames College (RuTC) celebrated the exceptional achievements and successes of twenty-two of its students at a Student Awards ceremony, which was held at the college campus in Twickenham, for the first time ever.
Over 100 guests attended including the Mayor of Richmond upon Thames, Councillor Suzette Nicholson, CEO of Harrow, Uxbridge and Richmond Colleges merger, Keith Smith as well as students, parents, staff and other members of the local community.
RuTC was delighted to welcome special guest speaker, Mark Foster, Olympic and World Champion swimmer who inspired the audience as he spoke about his journey and success in his chosen career. He left the students with encouraging words for the future, “Aim for the moon, even if you miss, you'll land amongst the stars.”
The award ceremony began with RuTC alumnus, Michael Howell, performing his own composition 'Rise Again'. Michael has been studying Music at Royal Holloway University since leaving the college last year and has enjoyed great solo success so far in his young career. Current RuTC performing arts students also provided entertainment throughout the evening.
Award winners included BTEC Science Level 3 student, Helen Yousef who received triple D* in her recent examinations and will be progressing on to study Biomedical Science at The University of Westminster. Helen's sister, Sophia, was also an award winner, winning the Supported Learning award and returning to college this year.
The Apprenticeship award was won by Tyler Smith, who is completing his Level 3 IT Solutions Technician apprenticeship at the National Physical Laboratory (NPL).
Art & Design student, Libby Benjamin, won the Greatest Contribution to College Life award. She reflected: “It was a truly magical night. Winning the award meant a lot to me because it reminded me how far I have come in life and how much further I'll go in the future. It also meant a lot having my friends and family there to witness it.”
Principal and host of the event, Gavin Hughes selected Sophie Millbank as the Student of the Year, praising her progression, commitment and positivity during her time studying at RuTC.
Gavin commented on the evening: “This year we gathered in a truly inspiring celebration of achievement at our annual Student Awards Ceremony. It was a remarkable evening, filled with pride, joy, and a profound sense of community as we honoured the outstanding accomplishments of our students. Our students have shown unwavering dedication and resilience, especially considering the disruption to their education caused by Covid-19. The awards presented were not just accolades; they were a recognition of the hard work, passion, and determination that our students have poured into their endeavours. I extend my heartfelt congratulations to all the award recipients.”