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Top Athlete Inspires Awards Audience
Posted 25.06.12
Leeds City College students witnessed an inspirational speech from top Olympic athlete Iwan Thomas MBE at the College’s annual Further Education Student Awards at Leeds Town Hall on Thursday (21st June).
Iwan Thomas, Olympic silver medallist and arguably one of the nation’s finest 400m runners of all time, was the guest of honour at the prestigious ceremony He spoke about his journey and the challenges he overcame to win medals at various major championships in the nineties and to take the British 400m record which he still holds. He then went on to present awards to more than fifty students who have made particularly inspirational achievements while at the College.
Among the awards given out was Apprentice of the Year, given to Oliver Snowden who studies alongside his job as commis chef at Nigel Haworth’s Northcote Manor to recognise the way in which he leads by example in his class. The top award of the night, Student of the Year, went to Lisa Horsley, an adult learner from Meanwood Centre who has completely changed her life by coming to College and now works as a teaching assistant.
Entertainment at the ceremony was provided by the Leeds City College Dance Collective and Leeds City College Has Talent 2012 winner Izzy Thomas. A short film created by media students which is the winner of this year’s Spotlight Filmmaking Award, was also screened. The theme of the film was the Olympic values: friendship, excellence and respect.
Principal and Chief Executive Peter Roberts says: “Having such a world-renowned athlete at our Awards ceremony was an exhilarating experience for our students, who themselves have also made incredible achievements in their lifetimes. It was a fantastic start to our celebrations in the build up to the London 2012 Games – an event that has the power to inspire and motivate all our students to aim to be the very best they can be.”
