College students receive awards for excellence

Two Newark students were among the winners at Lincoln College Group’s annual awards.

Joe Draghi, 21, and Sophie Hurst, 18, both of Newark College, were rewarded for their hard work and commitment.

Sophie, who is studying for a level-three diploma in travel and tourism, won the Newark Advertiser Award for extraordinary achievement in the service sector category.

She was said to be an excellent student who demonstrated commitment to everything she undertook.

Her nominee said: “She is a reliable and dependable member of the course and is always eager to join in any extra-curricula activities.

“She demonstrates a maturity beyond her years and regularly pushes the boundaries of other people’s cultural and current affairs knowledge and awareness.

“Sophie can always be relied upon to help others no matter what the cost to her own time or commitments and has a genuine caring nature where others are concerned.”

Sophie has not missed a day of her course. She achieved a distinction last year and is on target to achieve the grade again this year.

Sophie has acted as a student ambassador at college open evenings and took part in an International Bomber Command event where she helped to look after 500 veterans, including meeting and greeting the guests and serving food.

Sophie is planning to return to college to study a hospitality supervisor course and hoped to go into the events management industry.

'His confidence has grown dramatically'

Joe, who is completing a level-three extended diploma in creative media production and technology, won the Student Of The Year 2017 Circle IT Award in the Exceptional Achievement 19+ category.

Joe, 21, has been with the college for five years having started his journey in the foundations group at Newark College.

He soon discovered a passion and talent for drawing and animation and this inspired him to enrol on the level-two qualification in art, before progressing to study creative media production at the same level.

Joe is reaching the end of his level-three diploma in media and is predicted a distinction grade.

During his time at the college he is said to have worked incredibly hard not only in his main programme but also in his functional skills English and maths to get those qualifications up to the highest possible standard.

Joe’s nominee said: “His confidence has grown dramatically in this time and his work ethic is amongst the highest we have ever seen during our time teaching the course.

“He is a talented artist who will have exhibited three animated films by the end of this year and he has not let his learning difficulties restrict his progress.

“He is unfailingly pleasant and positive and is fully committed to his studies.”

From September, Joe will study visual effects at Confetti in Nottingham.

Joe and Sophie were among more than 20 Lincoln, Newark and Gainsborough college students who received awards for excellence and overcoming adversity.

Former health and social care student at the college and Lincoln MP Karen Lee was the guest of honour.

Photographs courtesy of Camilla Callaway Photography.