FE News | Excellence in education celebrated at Bradford College STAR Awards

Ellie Searby won the T Level Student of the Year award.

Ellie is known as a dedicated and diligent student. She consistently demonstrates excellent attendance, a strong work ethic, and high academic standards. Her commitment to learning not only impressed her teachers, but also led to multiple summer internship offers from various companies.

Apprentice of the year went to James Bland, specializing in Refrigeration and Air Conditioning. His guardians said:

“James has consistently demonstrated outstanding practical and theoretical skills, marking him out as an exemplary apprentice in our programme. His exceptional talent and dedication earned him a place in the prestigious WorldSkills competition, where the most skilled apprentices in their fields compete at national level.

“We are proud to recognize him for his extraordinary achievements and contributions. His hard work, dedication and exceptional skills make him a truly deserving recipient of this award.”

The Adult Student of the Year award went to Hedian Al Babesi, who transformed from a shy and nervous student into a confident young woman capable of performing Shakespeare in front of hundreds of people. Her nomination read:

“Hedian knows that education is her key to a better future, so she not only concentrates in every lesson, but also takes her homework home and completes extra tasks. She supports her family, has a constant smile on her face and her positive attitude means she sees obstacles as opportunities for growth.”

Science student Mohammad Ehsan won the Student Ambassador Award. His nomination read:

“Mohamed’s helpful nature has created a positive and inclusive learning environment in our classroom where everyone feels valued and supported. His kindness and empathy had a significant impact on the well-being of his classmates (…) He has become an invaluable member of our community and we are proud to have him as part of our team!”

The employer partner of the year was at Kids Planet. Cherelle Webster accepted the award on behalf of the organization after being nominated by the College Early Years and Health & Social Care team.

Over the past two years, Kids Planet has hosted 24 students for work experience. The organization has built a strong partnership with Bradford College, taking on more students than planned and has now agreed to become our industrial partner for the next cohort of Early Years T Level students.

Cross College Student of the Year went to Jeson Isolano, who is enrolled in a work-study course.

Jeson came to college from abroad, encountering challenges in meeting upper-level course requirements. However, his dedication was truly remarkable. His work ethic and perseverance are truly inspiring, as are his manners.

Jeson is a model student who has completed over 20 hours of work experience, 80 hours of enrichment activities and over 20 hours of social action to give back to the community. Jeson will now make a well-deserved transition to a Level 1 course.