Student bags excellence award (18/03/2009)

A College of West Anglia student from King’s Lynn, Shirley Evans, has scooped a rare City & Guilds Medal for Excellence award in recognition of her exceptional work

Shirley worked at the Oakes Court, residential home in Downham Market whilst training for her NVQ Level 2 Cleaning and support services qualification. She is one of only 98 lucky people to scoop the 2009 award selected from over 1.8 million eligible learners to land the City & Guilds Medal for Excellence for her outstanding performance in the cleaning sector.

City & Guilds, the UK’s leading awarding body for work-related qualifications, has awarded the coveted medals every year since 1879. The Medals for Excellence programme rewards talented people who have displayed exceptional standards as students or educational professionals, and whose portfolio and achievements put them a cut above the rest.

According to the City & Guilds judging panel, “Shirley has shown determination and originality in her coursework and has achieved very high standards. She is a deserving recipient of the Medal for Excellence and we are delighted to have chosen her for this award. A well deserved nomination the evidence spoke for itself”.

Shirley was presented with her Medal of excellence on the 6th March at the City & Guilds celebration ceremony in Mildenhall, Suffolk. A delighted Shirley said, “This is a great unexpected honour. To be nominated for such a prestigious industry award is one thing, but to win is exhilarating. I am looking forward to receiving my award and I hope that my success in the cleaning sector can convey to others the importance of gaining work-based industry specific qualifications.

Shirley is now in the running to win one of nine prestigious Lion Awards, dubbed the ‘education Oscars’, which will be announced later this year at a gala event to celebrate learning, success and achievement, at the Brewery, in London on the 6th April.

Emma Parry NVQ Assessor in Cleaning and Support Services at The College of West Anglia said, “Shirley has deservedly won this mark of special distinction. She is a real inspiration to others and demonstrates that getting the right skills can be the passport to fulfilling your potential.”