Access to Higher Education student wins runner-up at OCN London Awards

A West London College student, Zoe Ellis won runner-up for the OCN London Annual Michael Sargent Bursary Award for Outstanding Commitment to Study.

Zoe, who is now studying a BSc Nursing Degree at Bucks New University, was delighted with this achievement. She said:

“My health has always held me back in life but after finishing the Access to HE course in Nursing at West London College I know I’ll be able to make it through higher education.

“I experienced health and personal difficulties which prevented me from finishing my course but with hard work and the support from my teachers I was able to complete my studies with excellent grades and got a place in my first choice university.”

The Bursary Awards were presented on Wednesday, 28th November at City Lit by Ms Jacqui Mutter, CEO of OCN London. She said:

“Zoe submitted her work on time and achieved the Diploma in spite of persistent and serious health problems, demonstrating a remarkable and unwavering commitment to study.

“Given the demands which completing Access places upon even healthy students, her successes given her persistent and serious health problems reflect an outstanding commitment to her goals.”

Jonathan Gurney, Access to Higher Education lecturer, nominated Zoe for her unshakable commitment to completing her course in the face of difficult and challenging personal circumstances. He commented:

“Zoe showed such determination to complete all her work within the normal deadlines, I am very pleased for Zoe she is a credit to the college and will make a fine nurse.”

The Access to HE Diploma is a Level 3 qualification designed to prepare learners without traditional qualifications to progress to higher education. OCN London is a national is a national not-for-profit organisation that works in partnership with educators, training providers, charities and employers to offer the qualification.

West London College offers Access courses in a range of subjects including business, humanities and social sciences, nursing, engineering and biomedical science amongst others.