Glynllifon students celebrated at annual Prize Day

Glynllifon celebrated students’ achievements over the 2024/25 academic year at its annual Prize Day.

Award winners were recognised for each course at the land-based campus (full list of winners below), before the overall Student of the Year was announced at the end of the ceremony.

Winston Evans was named Glynllifon’s Student of the Year, winning the Cwpan Goffa John Tudor CBE, having also won the award for his course, Level 2 Agriculture.

Announcing the awards, Farm, Forestry and Innovation Manager Rhodri Owen said Winston had shown “total dedication and enthusiasm… excelling in all areas of work” and had “strong potential for success in the future”.

Rhodri added: “He is a true individual who is ready to work in all weathers, and farm staff are extremely grateful for the hard work he has done over the past year.”

Winston plans to return to Glynllifon in September to study Level 3 Agriculture.

Also among the winners were Will Aaron Lloyd, who received the ‘Special Contribution’ Madryn Glynllifon Alumni Cup, and Mark Webster, who was named Welsh Baccalaureate Learner of the Year.

There was a special presentation for Glynllifon’s rugby team, who won the North Wales under-18s Cup, beating Coleg Meirion-Dwyfor 38-7 in the final.

Captain Huw Watkins was presented with the cup on behalf of the team, who also finished second in the inaugural Welsh Agricultural Colleges competition in Aberystwyth earlier in the season.

Awards were also presented to the shearers of the year, while all Glynllifon learners received a certificate at the end of the ceremony.

The awards were presented by Glyn Roberts, a past president of the Farmers' Union of Wales, who was the guest speaker on the day.

The main sponsor of the Prize Day was OBR Construction. Director Rhys Jones said: “We are delighted to continue our partnership with Coleg Glynllifon and Grŵp Llandrillo Menai and have enjoyed being part of the celebrations.

“It is fantastic to see so many learners going on to further study or moving on into work. As a regional employer it is wonderful to see learners who have gained new skills and qualifications being celebrated!”

To apply for one of the Forestry, Agriculture, Agri Engineering or Animal Care programmes at Glynllifon from September, click here.

The full list of award winners is as follows:

Glynllifon Student of the Year (Cwpan Goffa John Tudor CBE): Winston Evans

Special Contribution (Cwpan Cyn-fyfyrwyr Madryn a Glynllifon): Will Aaron Lloyd

Welsh Baccalaureate Learner of the Year: Mark Webster

Level 3 Agriculture Learner of the Year (Cwpan Goffa George Edwards): Glesni Wyn Jones

Level 3 Agriculture Practical Learner of the Year: Osian Pierce

Level 2 Agriculture Learner of the Year: Winston Evans

Shearer of the Year (Tlws Elfed Jackson a’r Teulu): Owain Jones

Machine Shearer of the Year (Cwpan Goffa Elgan Williams): Osian Pierce

Machine Shearer of the Year: Teagan Cairns

Agricultural Machinery Level 3 Learner of the Year (Cwpan Jones a’i Feibion): Deio Llwyd Edwards

Agricultural Machinery Level 3 Practical Learner of the Year: Iestyn Jarman

Engineering Project of the Year: Twm Jôs Hughes

Level 2 Engineering (Cwpan Goffa Ieuan Ifor Williams): Cynan Parry

Level 3 Forestry and Arboriculture Woodman of the Year (Gwobr Goffa Gerallt Edwards): Misha Fox-Maderson

Level 3 Forestry and Arboriculture Best Practical: Mark Webster

Level 3 Forestry and Arboriculture Most Improved: Sarah Williams

Level 2 Forestry Learner of the Year: Tristan Jones (Tristan also won the Royal Forestry Society (RFS) Student of the Year award)

Level 2 Forestry and Arboriculture Most Improved: Rhys Pearce

Level 3 Animal Management Learner of the Year (Year 2): Joshua Michael Roberts-Higgins

Level 3 Animal Management Learner of the Year (Year 1): Lois Chapman

Level 2 Animal Care Learner of the Year: Louise Wilkinson

Level 1 Animal Care Learner of the Year: Zara Lewis Jones

Life and Work Skills Learner of the Year (Cwpan Anwen Harman): Jamie Williams