Celebrating Student Achievement Awards

On the evening of Thursday, 10 April, Shrewsbury Colleges Group celebrated the outstanding individual achievements of the class of 2024.

The annual awards recognised 30 students, from the approximate 10,000 students that the college works with each year, for their outstanding performance in their chosen course and broader contributions to the college. The awards recognised excellence across the range of provision that the college offers, including full-time courses, higher education, and apprenticeships, which is the most extensive range of provision across Shropshire county.

The awards night at Albrighton Hall Hotel saw awards presented to students covering a wide range of A Level and vocational courses studied at the college. Special awards were also given for Outstanding Contribution, Success Against the Odds, and Overall Student of the Year.

The Radbrook Foundation generously sponsors the Overall Student of the Year award. This year, we have welcomed a new sponsor: local MP Dr. Julia Buckley, who is sponsoring the Outstanding Contribution Award.

The students who attended the event were presented with a trophy to celebrate their achievement, a copy of their award citation, and a cheque as an expression of appreciation for their efforts. The award winners' families were also in attendance, along with senior figures from the college and local dignitaries and headteachers from the award-winning students’ previous schools.

Image of student in front of a purple curtain with an award

Libby Histed was presented with the Student of the Year award. She is studying English Literature in her first year at the University of Oxford, Harris Manchester College. Libby has had to overcome several challenges throughout her life, but she is an insightful, eager, incredibly engaged, and hardworking student.

Her route through the education system was not traditional, as her learning was disrupted from a young age. Libby joined Shrewsbury Colleges Group initially to study GCSE English and then progressed to the Access to Higher Education Diploma, where she studied Literature, History, Sociology, and Psychology. She earned distinctions in all of these categories, which is not an easy feat.

In these classes, her analytical skills were fine-tuned, and she demonstrated a love for research. Her analytical skills are continually enhanced through her voracious reading habits - ranging from classics to mythology, modern-day prize-winning literature, and academic research - Libby always has a book in hand.

James Staniforth, Principal and CEO of Shrewsbury Colleges Group, said: ‘It has been a genuine pleasure to recognise and celebrate the achievements of our former students who have won awards tonight. These students have progressed to study at prestigious universities or secured excellent jobs. Still, many of them have also made a significant contribution to the college community during their time at the college. They supported their fellow students, along with making a broader contribution to society.