[O]n Tuesday 3 July Lakes College hosted their glamorous annual Graduation and Awards ceremony celebrating the achievements of students over the past academic year.
Donning graduation robes and mortarboards, higher education students took to the stage to receive their scrolls as recognition for completing their university level courses at the college watched on by an audience of family, friends and loved ones.
Two graduating higher education students Tiffany Begg and Alan Stubbs were singled out and awarded special accolades of ‘Higher Education Academic Achievement’ and ‘Higher Education Special Achievement’ awards presented by representatives from event sponsors Sellafield Ltd and Morgan Sindall.
The event was a celebration of hard work, excellence and the outstanding achievements of not just Lakes College’s higher education students, but a range of students studying further education and apprenticeship courses at the college. Highlights included special academic achievement awards, learners of the year from each of the college’s departments and the Pauline Chorley Endeavour Award in memory of a beloved member of Lakes College team.
Alan Stubbs, who graduated with his Certificate in Education, entertained guests with a heartfelt speech focussing on self-confidence and how bettering oneself can be achieved at any age urging the audience to ‘never set yourself limitations, go for everything you are able to – you will surprise yourself as to how much you can achieve and how much you can change your life’.
Tom Samson, CEO of NuGeneration and guest speaker for the evening regaled the audience with five inspirational life mantras to live by including ‘there’s no such thing as bad weather, only bad clothes’.
The college not only recognised their students in the festivities, but also local employers and their commitment to skills and training in Cumbria with Eilbeck Plumbing and Heating taking the Micro Employer of the Year Award, and Bellcare and M-Sport taking the SME and Large Employer Awards respectively.
Chris Nattress, Lakes College Principal said: “We would like to thank everyone for attending the college’s Graduation and Awards Ceremony, we’re very proud of our students and glad we have been able to help them to reach their potential. We would like to congratulate them all once again and wish them the best of luck for the future.”