Coleg Llandrillo celebrates outstanding students of 2024/25
The college held its annual Achievers’ Awards Ceremony at Venue Cymru to recognise learners who have excelled during the academic year
Coleg Llandrillo celebrated its outstanding students of 2024/25 at the annual Achievers’ Awards Ceremony at Venue Cymru.
Isla Middleton was named ‘Overall Achiever of the Year’, having been accepted to study Foundation Medicine at the University of Liverpool following “an incredible academic journey” at college.
She was one of 20 further education students recognised at the ceremony for excelling in their respective subjects (see the full list of winners below).
The award winners were also treated to an inspirational speech from celebrity chef Bryn Williams, a Coleg Llandrillo alumnus, as they celebrated their success with family and friends at the Llandudno venue.
Students are nominated each year by their lecturers, with the winner for each subject area chosen by the respective department head. Each of the winners is presented with a trophy during the ceremony, before the Overall Achiever of the Year is announced at the end of the evening.
This year’s overall winner Isla enrolled on the Access to Higher Education (Science) course a year ago, initially hoping to become a paramedic.
At Tuesday’s ceremony, Coleg Llandrillo Principal Paul Flanagan said Isla had grown in confidence so much while studying that she is now taking steps towards her dream of becoming a doctor.
He said: “Like many of our Access students, this learner has been on an incredible academic journey.
“Originally joining the course to become a paramedic, this learner’s growing confidence and academic success have inspired a new ambition - to pursue a career in medicine, a path once thought out of reach.
“We are incredibly proud that this learner has been accepted to study Foundation Medicine at the University of Liverpool. We wish them every success in their studies and in achieving their goal of becoming a doctor in the NHS.”
Grŵp Llandrillo Menai chief executive Aled Jones-Griffith presented Isla with the Overall Achiever of the Year trophy, along with a £200 voucher.
Another student going on to study medicine is Charlotte Smith, who won the Achiever of the Year Award for A-levels.
Charlotte has consistently achieved top grades in her A-levels while volunteering at local hospitals and working 16 hours per week in a care home. She has received offers from leading universities.
Also among the winners was Level 3 Hairdressing student Heather Wynne. Heather reached last year’s WorldSkills UK national finals and won a place on the prestigious Calligraphy Cut Scholarship - all while running a successful business and raising her two children.
Another winner was Level 3 Sport learner Garmon Edwards-Jones, who is on track for the maximum triple Distinction and was commended for his work coaching students with profound learning difficulties.
Presentations were made during the ceremony to students who won medals in Skills Competition Wales this year, as well as those who represented Wales in the sporting arena. The students receiving caps for their sporting achievements were: Phoebe Griffiths (football), Cara Mercier (rugby) and Elis Jones (cross-country).
During the ceremony, Bryn Williams gave a speech on his journey from studying at Coleg Llandrillo to becoming an internationally acclaimed chef. Bryn, the proprietor of Bryn Williams at Porth Eirias and Chef Patron of The Cambrian in the Swiss Alps, is working with Coleg Llandrillo to develop an Ambassador Programme, supporting the skill development of students in hospitality and culinary arts.
Closing the ceremony, Grŵp Llandrillo Menai CEO Aled Jones-Griffith said: “This has been a fantastic evening. A great experience for all the winners, and a proud evening for family members and friends.
“We have nearly 30,000 learners and some of the best results and success rates in Wales. Those of you who have won awards tonight can be very proud to have been nominated among so many other students. I am sure that successful futures await you all.”
The full list of winners from the Coleg Llandrillo 2024/25 Achievers Awards is as follows:
Overall Achiever of the Year / Access to HE: Isla Middleton
Skills for Life and Work: Ryan Wilson
A-levels: Charlotte Smith
Art and Design: Jodie Roberts
Business: Lily Scott-Jones
Childcare: Morgan Gavin
Computing: Osian Gerallt
Construction: Kieran Taylor-Morgan
Engineering: Zack Arnold
Hair and Beauty: Heather Wynne
Health and Social Care: Emily Hatton-Hunter
Hospitality and Catering: Isaac Williams
Media: Finlay Jones
Motor Vehicle: Rhys Whitmore
Music and Performing Arts: Reuben Neary
Public Services: Liam Parson
Sport: Garmon Edwards-Jones
Travel and Tourism: Ellie Safhill
Adult Community Learning: Ann Lynchill
Welsh-Language Student of the Year: Bethan James
Grŵp Llandrillo Menai offers the widest range of educational and training courses in North Wales, from vocational courses, apprenticeships and A-levels to degrees and professional qualifications.