College students receive prestigious awards at Southwell Minster

College-level students receive awards and successfully graduate from animal, equine and land-based subjects at Brackenhurst.

The annual FE awards ceremony celebrates the successful completion of college-level graduates studying animal, equine and land-based subjects at Brackenhurst, Nottingham Trent University.

The cohort of 107 students were awarded a certificate at Southwell Minster, after successfully passing the Level 2 Diploma, Level 3 Extended Diploma and Access to Higher Education courses. With 14 students receiving prestigious awards, including trophies, cheques and book tokens.

The awards honour the most committed and hardworking students, including those that achieve distinction level work, engage well in all activities and encourage other students to improve their skills.

Fran Wilson who studied on the Level 3 Extended Diploma in Horse Management course was awarded the Lawton prize for her dedicated commitment to her studies. “In my first year I tried hard and got into the Grooms Academy, which only two students manage a year. This year I’ve worked hard alongside my studies to pass my exams for horse care, riding and coaching.”

Level 2 Diploma in Animal Care graduate Emily Thompson, was awarded the Peter O’Dell Trophy. She said: “I am happy because I didn’t think I would get it out of the 16 people that were up for it. I thought it was a really good ceremony.”

Abigail Cutts who studied the Level 3 Extended Diploma in Agriculture won the Newark and Nottinghamshire Agriculture Society Award, which included a cheque for £75. “I am incredibly proud to have won because I have been very involved in my course, including ploughing and feeding livestock.” Abigail has been awarded a place on a week-long training course run by the British Guild of Agricultural Journalists and John Deere, which has only ten places each year. At the end of the course, each person has to write a news story for judging by an expert panel. The winner received £250.

“Students have gained a wealth of experience, ranging from planting trees and lambing to working in veterinary surgeries and farm parks. Gaining relevant industry skills as well as developing academically has built their confidence and informed their decisions on future courses and employment. I wish all our graduates the best of luck with everything they do.” Pam Ellis, Head of Further Education at Brackenhurst Campus, Nottingham Trent University.

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About Nottingham Trent University
- Nottingham Trent University was named University of the Year 2017 at the Times Higher Education Awards and Modern University of the Year in the Times and Sunday Times Good University Guide 2018. The award recognises NTU for its strong student satisfaction, quality of teaching, overall student experience and engagement with employers.
- Nottingham Trent University (NTU) has been awarded the highest, gold, rating in the Government’s Teaching Excellence Framework for its outstanding teaching and learning.
- NTU is one of the largest UK universities with nearly 28,000 students and more than 3,500 staff across four campuses, contributing £496m to the UK economy every year. It is one of the most environmentally-friendly universities, containing some of the country’s most inspiring and efficient award-winning buildings.
- The University is passionate about creating opportunities and its extensive outreach programme is designed to enable Nottingham Trent to be a vehicle for social mobility. NTU is the sixth biggest recruiter of students from disadvantaged backgrounds in the country and 95.6% of its graduates go on to employment or further education within six months of leaving.
- NTU is home to world-class research, winning The Queen’s Anniversary Prize in 2015 - the highest national honour for a UK university. It recognised the University’s pioneering projects to improve weapons and explosives detection in luggage, enable safer production of powdered infant formula and combat food fraud.
- With an international student population of approximately 2,600 from around 100 countries, the University prides itself on its global outlook.