STUDENT AWARDS CEREMONY TO CELEBRATE SUCCESS AT WEST LONDON COLLEGE
Nineteen students received honours at the West London College Student Awards Ceremony last night (Wednesday 16 December 2022). There were twenty trophies to give in thirteen categories to include students from all four colleges in Hammersmith, Ealing, Southall and Park Royal. Guest speaker, Yonathan Andreas, a former student who is now a successful entrepreneur presented the awards to the ecstatic winners who completed their studies last year 2021-22. The glittering ceremony was held at The Sainsbury Theatre, part of the prestigious London Academy of Music, Dance and Acting (LAMDA).
The evening opened with Chair of Governors, Ian Comfort reflecting on the College’s highlights, one for each month of the year. He set the bar high, yet what was to follow raised it further. The entranced audience listened to the impressive citations of our most exceptional students for what was to become a joyful celebration of success and achievement.
Two very significant awards were made during the ceremony.
The first was The Jamal Edwards MBE Contribution to the Community award. A former student, Jamal Edwards MBE maintained his links with the College and believed strongly in the power of education to transform lives.
The award recipient, Maciej Frasunkiewicz said: “I didn’t think I would win and when my name was called out I was so excited. I’m very happy.”
The overall award for outstanding performance, The Principal’s Award, went to Angela Vallely in recognition of the outstanding dedication and commitment she has shown to achieving her overall goals. Angela won awards twice as her exceptional attitude towards her studies, excellent attendance, motivation and achievement led to her also winning the Award for Excellence 16-18 for Hammersmith and Fulham College earlier in the evening.
When asked how it felt to win not one but two awards, Angela jokingly said: “Heavy!” She went on to say that her family is going to buy a special cabinet for the living room just to hold all of her trophies from the Police Cadets, and now to include the awards she had just won and was immensely proud of.
Imperial College Healthcare NHS Trust scooped Work Placement Employer of the Year. Dinah Ofusu-Asante, Lead Nurse for Healthcare Support Workers, and Sharon Probets, Head of Learning collected the award. Dinah said: The relationship between the College and the Trust is good for both of us. We are able to give professional work experience to students and the students may go on to become our employees of the future.”
Other employers who came to enjoy the celebration included Poorvi Patel Head of Education, Employment and Skills at Heathrow and Barry Bassett Managing Director of VMI.TV Ltd.
Poorvi explained why it is important for employers to come to events like these: “It helps to build a pipeline and engage more effectively to showcase careers at Heathrow to students.”
Barry said: “I’m really struck by the incredible diversity at the College.”
The full list of winners and their awards
 | Angela Vallely Award for Excellence (16-18) Hammersmith & Fulham College and The Principal’s Award Double award winner Angela completed a two-year Public Services Level 3 Extended Diploma. She has now been fast-tracked into a police apprenticeship programme and is on course for achieving her career dream of being a Police sergeant. |
| Iqra Hussain Award for Excellence (adult) Hammersmith & Fulham College | Iqra, an inclusive learning student has adapted to significant change in her routine and built a trusting relationship with her learning support assistant. Iqra engages well in classroom situations, increasing in confidence and motivation, and making proactive contributions. |
| Marina Harrison-Abbas Award for Excellence (16-18) Ealing Green College | Marina is studying Digital Design and already producing near professional-standard design work. She consistently produces outstanding practical and written work, and always makes time to help others. |
 | Ibrahim Mohamed Award for Excellence (adult) Ealing Green College Despite deafness, Ibrahim has shown incredible leadership and sports skills in cricket and football. Ibrahim regularly raises deaf awareness and has taught some British Sign Language to his classmates so that they can communicate more easily with him. |
| Pourya Rashidijahanabad Award for Excellence (16-18) Southall Community College | Pourya’s passion and charisma have rubbed off on his classmates encouraging them to connect, converse and share their aspirations and challenges in life. |
| Andrew Mtizwa-Mubayiwa Award for Excellence (adult) Southall Community College | Andrew completed a construction-sector based work academy course at West London College, which led to permanent employment. |
 | Harley Burrows Award for Excellence (16-18) Park Royal College Harley put great effort into achieving well in Carpentry and Joinery Level 1, pushing through and succeeding to progress to Level 2 in September. Harley, aged 17, said: “I’m really happy to have won this award. My father passed away recently and I’m missing him a lot. He would have been very proud of me to win this award.” |
| Seema Hussain Award for Excellence (adult) Park Royal College | Seema decided to retrain and study to become an electrician in her fifties. She is breaking down stereotypes and has an uplifting effect on everyone in her class. |
| Tommy Falco Apprentice of the Year | Tommy took part in the final heat of World Skills in Norfolk, October 2021, and won a Stretch Test during the competition. After qualifying as a Dry Liner, he plans to set up his own company. |
 | Aissata Camara HE Student of the Year Working shifts in a care home and studying for Health and Social Care Practice Level 4 throughout the pandemic, as well as raising a family, Aissata is extremely focused. She currently plans to take a year out as she has just had a baby and then go to university. Her ambition is to work in health and social care management. Aissata, aged 30, said: “I feel really good to have won the award. I worked very hard to achieve it.” |
| Harry Abberley SEND student of the year | Following his studies in inclusive learning studies Harry progressed onto Motor Vehicle Levels 1 and 2. |
 | Abdullah Azizi Young student of the Year (14-16) Abdullah joined the College without any previous formal education. He worked hard in maths, IT, English, art, science and sports. He is a model student who is making outstanding progress. His favourite subjects are maths, English and IT and he plans to go to university. Abdullah said: “I am so happy to have won this award.” |
 | Qais Attaallah Sustainability Champion Award Sustainability champion, Qais Attaallah, is a science student at Ealing Green College. He plans to go to university to specialise in genetics. A member of the climate committee and the Deputy of Sustainability in our Student Union Council, Qais has continuously shown a passion for sustainability and implementing change within the college.Qais, who is aged 18, said: “I became aware of climate change when I was just a child and I felt impassioned to do all I could about it. The planet will survive without us, but I want people to still exist too so simply put we have to live more sustainably. I feel so excited to have won this award.” |
| Millie Maggioni Outstanding Sporting Achievement | Millie has played a key role in West London College’s football academy,delivered in partnership with Hounslow Women FC. Aged 18, Millie now plays for the first team of Hounslow FC, which plays in Tier 3 of women’s professional football, just two leagues below the Women’s Super League. |
| Fair Shot Café Employer or Community Partner of the Year | Fairshot Cafe has worked consistently with West London College to create a traineeship pathway for young adults with Special Educational Needs and Disability. This partnership has created opportunities for them to develop communication skills, self-belief, confidence, and self-advocacy skills, as well as helping each trainee be the best they can be. |
 | Imperial College Healthcare NHS Trust Work placement employer of the Year The Imperial College Healthcare NHS Trust provides work experience for our Health and Social Care students as well as advising on industrial placements for the introduction of T-levels. Trust staff also attend Progression Fairs, careers days and support virtual work placements. Our Career Clinic programme to help people get into health and social care jobs, now in its third year, has benefited enormously from their expertise. |
| Sammi Bennecib Inclusive Student Award | Sammi uses an eye gaze laptop, allowing communication with fellow students and staff. This year Sammi is on the Step Up course, where his ability to manage his personal, academic and social skills have encouraged many of his classmates to work harder and strive for more. |
 | Maciej Frasunkiewicz The Jamal Edwards MBE Contribution to the Community Creative Media student Maciej works as a volunteer for the college on media projects and is also active in community-based charity work. For the future he plans to set up his own photography and video company. |
 | Abdul Elmi Ambitious Student Award Currently studying a traineeship at the Fairshot Café, Abdul is on a clear path to employment. He is described as ‘a ray of sunshine’ by teachers, bringing cheer to everyone’s day. Abdul said: “I wanted to win this award so badly. I’m really happy for myself and for my family to have won it.” |
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