York College studies pay off

9:13am Wednesday 2nd July 2008

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HIGHER education students from York College were taking part in their graduation ceremony at York Theatre Royal today.

About 130 access, extended degree, Higher National Certificate (HNC), Higher National Diploma (HND) and foundation degree learners were graduating today in subjects ranging from construction studies and computing to sports therapy, fashion and nursing, with an audience of family and friends looking on.

After an opening address by the college principal, Dr Alison Birkinshaw, there was a keynote speech by Pete Dwyer, director of Children’s Services at City of York Council. Learners were presented with their certificates by John Short, chairman of the governors at the college and music was provided by college students. During the ceremony, two memorial trophies were awarded by the Business Studies Department. Jayne Bone, who studied for a foundation degree in health administration, was awarded the Elaine Higo Memorial Trophy for Student Of The Year.

At the same time, the Bob Halfacree Memorial Trophy For Management was awarded to Hannah Witham, a foundation degree in business management student. In addition, the TrustMarque Solutions prize for Applied Computing was awarded to Phil Coleman, who had studied for a foundation degree in applied computing.

Bob Saynor, assistant principal for lifelong learning and higher education, said: “This year’s event clearly demonstrates York College’s commitment to widely celebrate student success at all levels.

“In addition to this year attracting the largest number of attendees, we are also celebrating those students who will be progressing into higher education from our access to HE and extended degree programmes, alongside those completing their foundation degree, Higher Nationals, and degree studies at York College.

“All these students deserve our congratulations, and we celebrate their achievements alongside all our other students at the college.”

The £60 million state-of-the-art new college opened in September last year, and it provides education and training for 3,500 full-time students and 9,000 part-time ones.

It is a Centre of Vocational Excellence (COVE) for stonemasonry, rail engineering and signal engineering, hospitality and catering and leisure and tourism.