Last night, we hosted our annual Inspire Awards to celebrate our extraordinary students. It was a night to remember filled with inspiring stories, laughter and unforgettable moments.
Staff, students, and their loved ones came together at Halifax’s iconic Victoria Theatre to celebrate their remarkable achievements from the past year. It was an amazing opportunity to hear stories of student success, showcase their accomplishments, and enjoy outstanding performances from our talented creative students. All that and more made this year’s event another truly memorable celebration!
We set up a packed schedule for our star students, with individuals nominated for a variety of prestigious awards including Young Person of the Year, Adult Student of the Year, Resilience, Outstanding Attitude, Calderdale’s College Award and Apprentice of the Year. The surprise award of the night was the Percival Whitley Foundation Inspirational Student of the Year, which was selected from the high number of strong nominations across the main categories.
The event welcomed over 300 visitors from Calderdale and the surrounding area, including partners and sponsors who gathered to support our students.
The first award of the night was the Outstanding Attitude Award, which was given to a true advocate for the college who consistently demonstrates the values and standards expected of an exceptional student, sponsored by O&M Electrical Services. The winner of this award was Ajo Parakalayil George.
The Apprentice of the Year award, sponsored by 3P Construct, was up next! The award was presented to Brodie Hoyle, who was picked out for her exceptional commitment to both her studies and the construction industry.
Adult Student of the Year was presented to a student that has set a fantastic example of how education can empower individuals to create meaningful change, both personally and within their community. This award was won by Deonne Facey.
Next was the Young Person of the Year award, which went to Leena Ali, Leena was praised for her commitment to excellence despite facing significant personal challenges. This award was sponsored by Simprint.
This year’s Resilience Award sponsored by Dean Clough was given to a student that had been out of education for more than two years and now undertakes a six hour round trip to attend College. His is a story of determination, commitment and resilience. This award was presented to Janade Mohammed, a deserving winner!
Some more recognition for our apprentices followed with our Apprenticeship Employer Choice Award for Best Newcomer. The winner of this award was Sammy Richardson a Level 5 Leadership and Management apprentice, her nomination painted a picture of an apprentice that has embraced every opportunity offered through the programme, making significant and positive differences for both her team and her own personal development.
The Apprenticeship Employer Choice Award for Apprentice of the Year was up next! This award was won by Dantay Bahri who was praised by his colleagues for being a highly capable and trusted member of the team that consistently delivers excellent service and demonstrates exceptional maturity as part of his Level 3 Insurance apprenticeship.
The Calderdale’s College Award sponsored by Bullough’s Cleaning Service is an award that recognises students that have contributed to their local community and made a positive social impact. It was awarded to our DFN Project Search Interns for their charity bike ride to raise money for the Maternity Bereavement Suite at Calderdale Royal Infirmary. Together, they cycled an incredible 203 miles on two stationary bikes and raised over £300 for this important cause.
The second to last award was the Student Choice Award an opportunity for students to think about their contemporaries and reflect on the impact they’ve had on college life. The winner of this award was Ian Irving! This student has shown commitment to supporting men’s mental health at the College, working to raise awareness by hosting stalls for the Social Action Group and starting a men’s mental health club.
The last award of the night was the Percival Whitely Foundation Inspirational Student of the Year which was awarded to Nikki Dunne a student that has shown dedication and perseverance in their studies. Nikki is passionate about pursuing a career in counselling and helping those who have experienced adversity and difficult life circumstances.
Not only did we have a jampacked schedule of award winners, we also had two show shopping performances from Music students Yung Clover and MARA!
The Inspire Awards highlight the exceptional effort, perseverance, and determination of Calderdale College students, it’s no wonder we look forward to it all year!
