One of the sponsors of a Shropshire colleges group’s student awards has thrown down the gauntlet with a challenge to young people – to support its own major fundraising project.
The support appeal has been made by Rotarian Jonathan Callwood, president-elect of our club, which this year has increased its donation to Shrewsbury Colleges Group’s Star Awards to £600.
Presenting 24 of the 44 awards, he told students, staff and guests that he wanted to encourage students to become involved in some of Rotary’s community projects – and specifically referred to the club’s Santa sleigh at Christmas. He said this could involve students assisting in helping children on and off the sleigh as well as further assisting the Rotary club to improve its social media presence. In addition, student involvement in helping the club to make a documentary film about its history and plans for the future.
“I do hope that some of you will speak to me later about getting involved in our exciting fundraising projects,” he told the assembly and after the ceremony, he confirmed that several attendees had spoken with him about their potential involvement in the club’s ‘exciting’ projects.
“It looks like our Rotary challenges are inspiring,” he added. “I am proud to be a member of Shrewsbury Severn Rotary Club and especially so to help, encourage and support Shrewsbury Colleges Group students and staff, both financially and hopefully in the near future by sharing some exciting projects which I am heading up during my new presidency. By speaking now I want to encourage students to get involved in some of our community projects that are also so important to many local people. I hope our Rotary challenges will inspire them and wish them every success and happiness in the future.”
Principal and CEO of Shrewsbury Colleges Group, James Staniforth, thanked Shrewsbury Severn Rotary Club and Radbrook Foundation, its other sponsor, telling award-winning students their achievements were ‘absolutely fantastic.’ He said he hoped they would feel ‘incredibly proud’ as the college were because of the way they had overcome ‘difficulties, setbacks and challenges.’
Board chair Joycelin Hoyland, closing the Star Awards, praised what she described as our ‘wonderful sponsors’ without whose financial support the awards would not take place. She added: “It is an unforgettable day for our nominates.”
Commendations included: ‘Has overcome challenges and setbacks;’ ‘Faced many challenges along the way – and will go far;’ ‘Consistently turned obstacles into achievements through sheer perseverance;’ ‘Courage and resilience inspiring;’ and ‘Overcome challenges and setbacks to pick this up and carry on the challenge.’
Awards, which included Levels 1, 2, 3 and T; A Levels and GTEC, were presented by Jonathan to the following students:
Emma Edge, Laith Almustapha, Nathan Oulton Cartwright, Dima Zalevadnyi, Josef Sambrook, Bernice Okyere, Phoebe Dotson, Ariya Warner, Zarabeth Boccacci, Arabella Clarke, Niamh Downward, Charlie Livings, Emily Thomas, Sam Poole, Ellie-May Sidwell, Anastasia Burrows, Fay Bradley, Alice Steventon, Beth Antelo, Faith Harris, Rex Harris, Jamie Hancox, Sophie Evans and Jack Males.
The other students to receive awards were Jaden Szucs, Harry Tomlinson, Ruby Hudson, Ffion Kirby, Ella Williams, Olivia Anderson, Adam Zihni, Lucy Gilchrist, Nour Abdella, Charlotte Lovatt, Chloe Williams, Keagan Fellows, Freddie Thomas, Luke Dennis, Milly Lloyd, Oscar Cahill, Libby Butler-Standing, Mason Bradley (represents the UK in mountain biking), Charlie Crombie, Tamara Turner.
