Outstanding students recognised at Coleg Menai awards
The college held its 2024/25 Achievers’ Awards Ceremony at the Bangor campus to celebrate learners who have excelled throughout the academic year
Coleg Menai celebrated the outstanding students of 2024/25 at its annual Achievers’ Awards Ceremony.
Connie Whitfield was named ‘Overall Achiever of the Year’ during the ceremony at the Bangor campus, while 15 of her peers were also recognised for excelling in their respective programme areas (see the full list of winners below).
The award winners were treated to an inspirational speech from Carmen Smith - a former Coleg Menai student and the youngest ever member of the House of Lords - as they celebrated their success with family and friends.
Every year, lecturers from each subject area are invited to nominate students for an award within that discipline, with the winner being chosen by the respective programme area manager.
Each winner receives a trophy during the ceremony, before the Overall Achiever of the Year - chosen by the Principal - is announced at the end of the evening.
At the ceremony on Thursday, Coleg Menai principal Dr Siôn Peters-Flynn presented engineering student Connie with this year’s Overall Achiever award, along with a £200 voucher.
Dr Peters-Flynn described Connie as “a student of exceptional commitment, maturity and leadership”, highlighting her participation in national skills competitions and her work through college on the Morlais tidal stream energy project - in which she became “a driving force behind the team's success”.
Connie was also presented with a local network prize from the Institution of Engineering and Technology, as well as the Achiever of the Year award for her subject area.
Also among the winners for their subject areas were Wales under-19 footballer Casi Evans (Sport and Public Services) and Access to Higher Education learner Lee Morris.
Wales Under-19 footballer Casi is on track for exceptional grades in her Level 3 Sport and Exercise Science diploma, and scored the highest marks in her year group in physiology - all while training with Blackburn Rovers and playing on loan for Halifax. She has also been selected for the Ynys Môn squad for the Island Games in Orkney next month (July 12-18).
Lee was nominated by his own class-mates, alongside their tutor, as reward for supporting his fellow students, as well as achieving academic excellence himself. He attained the full 45 credits at distinction level, and showed a selfless attitude to helping others fulfil their potential.
At the ceremony, Dr Peters-Flynn also presented caps to students who represented Wales in the sporting arena during the academic year. They were: Byron Davis, Morgan Davies, Casi Evans (all football), Saran Griffiths (rugby), Ffion Humphreys (swimming) and Noa Vaughan (cross-country).
Awards were also presented in memory of former Coleg Menai students Chloe Bidwell and Rhun Jones.
Opening the ceremony, Dr Peters-Flynn said: “I have the honour of presenting these very prestigious awards this evening to a group of students who are to be recognised for their hard work and dedication over the past 12 months.
“Our award winners have been nominated as students who have gone that extra mile, who have broken down barriers or who have excelled in their subject. This is what makes these awards very special, and a privilege to present.”
The ceremony featured guest speaker Carmen Smith, who studied Level 3 Business Studies at Coleg Menai between 2013 and 2015. Last year she became the youngest ever member of the House of Lords, taking the title ‘Baroness Smith of Llanfaes’, after the Anglesey village where she grew up.
The full list of winners from the Coleg Menai 2024/25 Achievers Awards is as follows:
Overall Achiever of the Year / Engineering / Institution of Engineering and Technology local network award: Connie Whitfield
Rhun Jones Memorial Award (Automotive Engineering): Mackenzie Diggons
Chloe Bidwell Sky’s the limit award (Construction): Tiago Coelho
Access to Higher Education: Lee Morris
A-level (Sciences): Lois Jones
Art and Design: Mali Smith
English for Speakers of Other Languages: Kateryna Romaniuk
Expressive Arts: Jessica Jones
Hair and Beauty: Alicja Basha
Health and Care with Child Care: Corwen Olsen
Hospitality and Catering: Sam Lee
Lifelong Learning: Siôn Wyn Jones
Media, Games Development and IT: Siôn Tegwyn Jones
Skills for Work and Life: Jake Fenney
Sport and Public Services: Casi Evans
Welsh Student of the Year: Erin Williams
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.