STUDENT STARS AND GRADUATES HONOURED AT ONLINE AWARDS CELEBRATION

Caption: Celebration of achievement online graduation ceremony

Students at North Warwickshire and South Leicestershire College (NWSLC) have been praised for developing the qualities of ‘agility, resilience, creativity and generosity’ at a celebration event to recognise their achievements.

The event, attended by over 200 guests, which was held online for the first time on Friday 22 January, included an inspirational keynote address from Marion Plant, OBE FCGI, Principal and Chief Executive of NWSLC who highlighted how students from across the college had reacted with agility during the coronavirus lockdown, pivoting their skills to adapt to new ways of teaching, and reaching out to make a difference in the community.

The celebrations recognised representatives of the 12,000 students and apprentices who studied with NWSLC last year completing qualifications from foundation to degree level across the college’s six campuses.

Marion Plant said, “Over the last 12 months, I have been so impressed by the pace at which all our students have adapted to new and changing circumstances, embraced remote learning, and remained socially connected while we have all stayed safe apart. I have witnessed countless acts of selfless kindness from volunteering within the NHS and in care settings, to making PPE at home and providing donations to food banks.”

Despite a year dominated by challenging circumstances, notable successes for NWSLC included a ‘Good’ outcome from its Ofsted inspection, achieving the highest levels of satisfaction in the Midlands amongst higher education students, and being named the best performing English college at the WorldSkills UK LIVE national skills competition.

Marion Plant said, “Hosting our awards celebration online for the first time was a fantastic opportunity to involve as many people as possible in recognising the significant achievement of our talented students without the usual constraints of a physical space. We have turned the lockdown to our advantage, and it was wonderful to see so many people coming together virtually to celebrate with us while staying safe at home.”

The event included a video performance by talented performing arts student Imogen Latta from Earl Shilton who was recognised by Pearson as one of four winners of the Showstopper Challenge as part of the 2020 BTEC awards. Also congratulating the students and graduates was the Chair of the North Warwickshire and South Leicestershire College governing body, Professor Ray Linforth, OBE.