Students from across Eastern Education Group – West Suffolk College Sixth Form, Abbeygate Sixth Form College in Bury St Edmunds and One Sixth Form College in Ipswich – were recognised for their achievements during a prestigious awards ceremony that took place at the cathedral in Bury St Edmunds.
The annual Celebration of Achievement event honours students for their efforts throughout the last 12 months.
A total of 34 prizes were handed out in categories that encompassed outstanding progress and sustainability. There were also award for rising stars, community champions, outstanding adult learners, equality and diversity, young leaders, remarkable students and educational excellence.
This event took place amidst a backdrop of ongoing success for Eastern Education Group during the last few years that has seen West Suffolk College achieve ‘outstanding’, joining One Sixth Form and Abbeygate who were also graded outstanding in recent times.
Dr Nikos Savvas is the Chief Executive Officer of Eastern Education Group. He said: “Across Eastern Education Group, we now support over 15,000 students across our further education colleges, adult learning centres, primary schools, and SEND provision. Every single one of those students matters. But tonight, we shine a spotlight on those who have gone above and beyond. Our mission has never changed: to transform lives through learning. That is not a slogan. It is what we see, every single day, in the stories of our students. Tonight, we celebrate 34 of those stories. Students who have shown remarkable strength of character, intellect, and compassion. Students who have overcome personal challenges with courage and determination. Students who have made outstanding contributions to their communities – through environmental action, charity work, peer leadership, and more.”
Dr Savvas also thanked parents, families, friends, teachers, tutors, mentors and staff for supporting learners across the group.
Out of all the 34 winners, Dr Savvas and his team of governors chose an overall winner, and this accolade went to Will Farrow, 18, from Felixstowe. Will – who received the Principal’s Choice Award and the CEO Governor’s Award for overcoming several challenges.
Despite those challenges, he is a carer for a family member, won a community champion award, is working towards a Gold Duke of Edinburgh Award, secured a St John Ambulance ‘first aid at work’ certificate and is learning to fly gliders. William Farrow, 18, studied A-Levels at One Sixth Form College.
In response to his win, Will said: “It feels amazing. It’s really nice to see all the effort I put in actually result in something. I’m buzzing, and really happy. It’s a true honour between all the colleges for me to be picked for such a good award. It means a lot.”
Will is now taking a gap year and then hopes to join the RAF and enlist as a doctor.
Other winners included Deacon Fisher, 18, from Bury St Edmunds. He received the Principal’s Choice Award. In a citation read out during the ceremony, it said: “Deacon is a remarkable young man whose journey this year embodies the very best of our college values. Following a diagnosis of Leber’s hereditary optic neuropathy over the summer, a condition causing progressive central vision loss, Deacon has faced challenges that would test anyone, let alone a young performer mid-way through a demanding course. He has approached every obstacle with extraordinary maturity, working with different agencies to access the support he needs, mastering new skills including the use of a cane, and embracing every new idea and adaptation presented to him.”
Deacon said: “The diagnosis came between my first and second year, so when I came back, I had to get used to everything all over again, but I was in a familiar environment with people I liked, doing something I love. That made it a lot easier. At times it can be exhausting, but if I want to live my life the way I want to live it, I have got to endure the hardships so I can enjoy myself further down the line.”
His mum – Samantha Fisher said: “We are so proud of Deacon and how he’s handled everything. He has shown such tenacity, strength, and courage over the past 12 months. And he refused to let it ruin his dreams, or to just lie down and not get back up again. I have so much respect and pride for that, and I just feel he’s really deserving of some sort of appreciation from more than just mum and dad.”
Another winner was Baveen Qadri, 17, from Ipswich. Baveen received the Outstanding Progress Award after coming to the UK four years ago speaking no English. She is now studying A levels on her journey to working as a nurse – so that she can “make a positive difference in people’s lives and give back to the communities that have supported me throughout my journey.”
And Alfie Glanville, 21, from Stowmarket received the Outstanding Young Learner Award. Alfie is an athlete who will be representing Suffolk at a national event this summer. On getting a letter through the post telling him of his award, he joked “I thought it was a parking ticket.”
The master of ceremonies was Tanya Verow from One Sixth Form College.
Music was performed by a choir made up of West Suffolk College Sixth Form performing arts students called Amado.
The food on the night – served in the historic cathedral gardens – was provided by Casper’s Catering and Cakes.
All winners received a trophy.
Former student, teacher and now successful business owner Sam Read-Graves gave a speech praising the college for the positive impact that West Suffolk College had made on his life.
Sponsors included Beckett Investment Management Group, Havebury Homes, Leading Lives, Pearson, Suffolk Chamber of Commerce and TMJ Interiors.
