College celebrates students’ achievements

WARRINGTON’S Priestley College has celebrated the incredible achievements of its Class of 2015 at a prestigious awards evening.
Honours were handed out for academic achievements along with Duke of Edinburgh Gold Awards and further praise for the students’ involvement in the community around Warrington.
Principal Matthew Grant told students: “You overcame disabilities, health issues and personal challenges or individual crises, sometimes with tears but more often than not with smiles and a steely determination to succeed.”
More than 540 of Priestley’s summer leavers are now studying at university while dozens of others have secured apprenticeships or jobs at major companies including Barclays, Network Rail and BT.
Duke of Edinburgh Gold Awards were presented to 20 students and a host of sponsored awards were given to individuals who excelled in each curriculum area.
Ben Craven and Duncan Cathie won the award for Contribution to College Life and the Wider Community in recognition of their efforts on the College Council and other local events.
Outstanding Achievement awards were given to Amy Dewsnip, Nina Martin, Reece Moore, Matthew Radley and Katheryn Thompson.
Mr Grant added: “Without doubt the most rewarding part of our job is seeing the students achieve their full potential at
Priestley and then go on to great things afterwards.
“These young people came to us from schools across Warrington and further afield with their own goals in mind. It is wonderful to hear about all the different routes they have taken as they pursue the next stages in their lives.”
Guest of honour was Warrington Wolves’ chief executive Roger Draper who told students to always dream, but to also learn from failures.
He shared some advice his grandad once gave him: Work hard, be kind and great things will happen.
“You have got to have dreams and ambitions and sometimes they will come true,” he said.