Exeter College Alumni Celebrated at Glamourous Awards Night

Exeter College was delighted to return to an in-person event for this year’s Student Awards. Over 100 guests attended the 2023 awards ceremony at the Mercure Rougemont Hotel, celebrating the very best from a wide range of courses and achievements.

This group of students emerged from the pandemic and managed to deliver a set of exceptional results from all areas of the College. Their level of ambition has ensured they have achieved what they set out to do, with students progressing to an impressive list of universities, graduate schemes or directly into employment.

John Laramy CBE, Chief Executive and Principal at Exeter College said;

“I would like to congratulate all of tonight’s award winners, last year’s students and apprentices across the college combined to create one of the most successful years in our long History – thank you! Students delivered our best ever A Level results, outstanding T Level results and a stunning range of achievements, that covered every facet of college life. We are proud that you now become an Exeter College alumni.

“Our partners continue to work positively and proactively with us to make a meaningful difference to the student experience. I would also like to thank our sponsors and our employers; their ongoing support is, simply superb!”

College Patron Professor Sir Steve Smith, Vice Principal Jade Otty, Chair of Governors Bindu Arjoon, Principal John Laramy, Simon Jupp MP and Suzanne Tracey, Chief Executive Officer of the Royal Devon University Healthcare NHS Trust.

The College was delighted to welcome Suzanne Tracey as guest speaker to the awards. Suzanne is the Chief Executive Officer for the Royal Devon University Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust and has been instrumental in creating a sector leading relationship with the College which means that students can access work experience opportunities and occupationally specific pathways, such as midwifery.

Suzanne Tracey, Chief Executive Officer of the Royal Devon University Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust said:

“I’ve been delighted to be part of these special awards, celebrating the extraordinary achievements of students at Exeter College.

“We are really proud of our partnership with the College, which offers students the opportunity to find their future career, through a number of innovative qualifications and hands-on work experience, in both clinical and non-clinical roles.

“The students we work with are fantastic and we are excited to see what we can do together next.”

Students from the 2021/22 academic year were invited back to celebrate their impressive achievements and have the chance to catch up with past tutors and teachers.

Lily Tomlinson achieved the outstanding accolade of being the highest performing A Level PE student in the country.

Lily Tomlinson studied A Levels in Maths, Biology and PE and won an award for Academic Excellence. She is now studying at Loughborough University doing Sport and Exercise Science and is hoping to work in elite sport. She said;

“It’s an honour to be here, the college is so big, and all my friends did very well too so it’s a nice surprise.

“College really widened my horizons; it was a great steppingstone from school before university and made me take more responsibility for myself but there was still a lot of support when I needed it.”

Louis Skilton captained the College’s Esports League of Legends team in two national Esports finals.

Louis Skilton studied Esports Production and Management at College and is now doing a degree in Coaching and Management at the new College of Esports in London. He is planning to play internationally and is already speaking with companies about managing teams. Louis won the award for Esports Academy Student of the Year. He said:

“I’ve never seen as much passion and enthusiasm as I did at Exeter College in all my years of education, it changed learning for me. I had amazing opportunities like being interviewed by BBC Spotlight and competing in National Championships.

“This award feels like gratification for all the hard work, but I also feel like anyone could have got it as the whole team was amazing.”

Joshua Dyer studied the T Level in Software Development and did his work placement with Teignbridge Propellors where he now works as a Junior Software Developer. He won an award for Vocational and Technical Excellence and said;

“I’m really happy to be here tonight. My time at college was amazing, the way the course was taught was dynamic, practical, and hands-on. I would recommend it. The tutors and staff were amazing. Everyone is really friendly, I made lifelong friends.”

The College would like to congratulate all the 2023 award winners and say a big thank you to all our Sponsors who make this event possible.

Award Category	Student	Sponsor
Award for Academic Excellence	Isaiah Akinrowo	Bishop Fleming
Award for Academic Excellence	Madison Alford-Carnell	Peninsula Project Consulting
Award for Academic Excellence	Troy Dale	Exeter Science Park
Award for Academic Excellence	Lily Tomlinson	Foot Antsey
Award for Vocational & Technical Excellence	Charlotte Barons	Willmott Dixon
Award for Vocational & Technical Excellence	Joshua Dyer	SW Comms
Award for Vocational & Technical Excellence	Mitchell Hadley	Stagecoach
Award for Vocational & Technical Excellence	Oliver Stockman	Exeter Works
Apprentice/Advanced Apprentice of the Year	Joan Murray	Taylor Lewis
Higher Apprentice of the Year	Ekaterina Cherkasenko	Howmet Aerospace
Performing Arts Academy Student of the Year	David Russell	Hampton by Hilton Exeter Airport
Digital Media Academy Student of the Year	Cameron Vaziri	Nevada Construction
Michael Caines Academy Student of the Year	Joshua Evans	Lympstone Manor
Esports Academy Student of the Year	Louis Skilton	Jurassic Fibre
Sports Academy Student of the Year	Caitlin Jeffery	Exeter City Community Trust
Reach Academy Student of the Year	Gabrielle Moran	Kislingbury Property Consultants
School of Art Student of the Year	Tavia Parker Schweizer	Pollards Print
Adult Learner of the Year	Jessica Santiago	University of Exeter
Skills for Life Student of the Year	Hector Kilvington	NatWest
Exeter College Sustainability Award	Ellie Edwards	Visit Exeter
The #ExeCollProud Award	Cameron Hatton	GWR

University Academic Announced as Patron of Exeter College

University of Exeter Vice Chancellor Sir Steve Smith has been announced as a Patron of Exeter College, becoming just the second person to be awarded the prestigious title.

Exeter College awards patronages in recognition of exceptional achievements of distinguished friends of the College and Sir Steve joins renowned Chef Michael Caines MBE in receiving the honour.

“I have had the privilege of working closely with Exeter College over a number of years, and it plays a pivotal role not only in providing an exceptional educational experience for its students but also in the wider community,”
Sir Steve Smith, University of Exeter Vice Chancellor

Sir Steve has been instrumental in shaping the education landscape within Exeter and the wider region. Together, the University of Exeter and Exeter College are co-sponsors of both the Ted Wragg Multi-Academy Trust and the Exeter Mathematics School. It is these partnerships and the relationship between the University and the College that has helped to make the education ecosystem within Exeter so clear, coherent and effective.

Sir Steve’s tenure as Vice Chancellor at the University of Exeter has seen the University gain Russell Group status and consistently excel in national and international rankings of universities. His achievements since his appointment in 2002 have also seen him knighted in 2011 and made Freeman of the City of Exeter in 2019. Between 2009 and 2011 Sir Steve was President of Universities UK (UUK).

The announcement was officially made at Exeter College’s landmark 50^th Anniversary Student Awards held in the stunning location of Exeter Cathedral in January.

Speaking after receiving the award, Sir Steve said, “I am delighted, and humbled, to have been given the honour of becoming a Patron of Exeter College.

“I have had the privilege of working closely with Exeter College over a number of years, and it plays a pivotal role not only in providing an exceptional educational experience for its students but also in the wider community. Exeter already has a wonderful ethos of collaboration amongst its further and higher education institutions, and I am delighted to have this opportunity not just to help strengthen this further, but also to support the excellent work carried out at Exeter College in the coming years.”

As a Patron of Exeter College, Sir Steve has been formally recognised for his immense contributions to the region and education. The College, in turn, can benefit from his accumulated knowledge, his passion for education and his belief in the power of partnership.

Exeter College Principal and Chief Executive John Laramy, who has worked closely with Sir Steve and his team since joining the College 11 years ago, said, “We are thrilled that Sir Steve has agreed to become a Patron of Exeter College. His impact on the City of Exeter, the region and research-intensive education more widely, has been immense. We will benefit greatly from his wisdom and guidance in the years ahead, I am sure that Sir Steve’s ethos of partnership working and collaboration between higher education and further education is a blueprint for the future.

“Sir Steve has been an incredible advocate for the development of not just for the University, but for the wider community and has been a passionate supporter of Exeter College over the years.”

Exeter College’s Student Awards celebrated the exceptional students of Exeter College in a landmark event that also looked back on 50 years since being named as the UK’s first ever tertiary college. Inspirational students were recognised in a ceremony after a meal served in the nave of Exeter Cathedral.

Find out more about the Exeter College Student Awards 2020.

[Photo: Sir Steve Smith is pictured with Exeter College Principal John Laramy, Chair of Governors David Allen OBE and student award winners at the Exeter College Student Awards in January 2020.]

Exceptional Students Celebrated at Golden Exeter College Awards

The exceptional learners of Exeter College have been celebrated at a glittering awards ceremony held in the stunning location of Exeter Cathedral.

The Exeter College Awards 2020, supported by headline sponsors Foot Anstey and Willmott Dixon, aim to shine a light on inspirational achievements of students throughout the previous academic year, with 20 awards handed out to students throughout the night as learners were recognised for achievements in higher education, further education and personal triumph over adversity.

“To see our students again and hear their achievements and what they are up to now is incredibly inspiring,”
John Laramy, Exeter College Principal and Chief Executive

20 students were recognised with awards for academic, vocational, apprenticeship or personal excellence

This year’s awards were especially poignant as the college reflected on 50 years since being named as the UK’s first ever tertiary college in 1970. Guests were treated to a two-course meal as the community joined together to celebrate students, alumni, staff and partners that have contributed to the success of Exeter College today.

Students from across the South West travelled to the event, highlighting the far-reaching appeal of Exeter College to learners as the ‘Class of 2019’ was formally celebrated at this showpiece event.

Exeter College Principal and Chief Executive John Laramy said, “It has been a real privilege to celebrate the accomplishments of some of our high performing, exceptional learners at this terrific awards event. This year, as an innovation, every student that was nominated for an award will be given a highly commended certificate, which is our way of recognising that we have a large and growing number of simply amazing students!

“To see our students again and hear their achievements and what they are up to now is incredibly inspiring, not just for those of us at the awards but also for those students who are thinking of joining the college.”

The latest academic year has certainly given those at the college reason to celebrate, as FE Week’s NICDEX once again ranked Exeter College as one of the top further education providers in the country, alongside remarkable results in a host of academic, vocational and professional courses.

John continued: “Students and staff, yet again, made 2018/19 an exceptional year. To give one example, students achieved record results in our International Baccalaureate; the best in our 20 year history of delivering this demanding international qualification. In relation to staff, we were delighted that our staff ranked the college as a Sunday Times ‘Best Companies’ Top 100 Employer. We recognise that to be successful we need fantastic students and great staff; it is this combination that creates a magic formula.

“Our Student Awards evening is always a highlight of the year but this event has been especially momentous as we looked back on our first 50 years since becoming the UK’s first tertiary college. I want to take this opportunity to thank everyone; students, alumni, staff, former staff, employers and partners for supporting us over the years. The event was epic and a spectacular way to start the next 50 years!”

Exeter College would like to thank all the generous sponsors who supported this year’s event. They were: Arconic Engines, Bishop Fleming, Devon County Council, Devon Live, Exeter Airport, Exeter Chamber of Commerce, Exeter City Community Trust, Exeter Live Better, Flybe, Foot Anstey, Great Western Railway, InExeter, Kislingbury Property Consultants, Mi-Space and Midas, Peninsula Project Consulting, Pollards Print, Santander, Stagecoach, SW Comms and Willmott Dixon.

Head over to our Facebook and Instagram pages to catch the best photos from the event.

Full list of student award winners

Name	Award	Sponsor
Joseph Price	Academic Excellence Award	Foot Anstey
Deanna Gillings	Academic Excellence Award	Santander
Alice Tomkins	Academic Excellence Award	Great Western Railway
Sophie Florides	Academic Excellence Award	Bishop Fleming
Harry Colgrave	Advanced Apprentice Award	Mi-Space/ Midas
Georgia Mavin	Apprentice Award	Exeter Live Better
Sarah Woodison	Creative and Performing Arts Academy Award	Pollards Print
Eleanor Harvey	Flybe Academy Award	Flybe
Leah Pethick	Higher Apprentice Award	Arconic Engines
Rosie Nevill	Michael Caines Academy Award	Exeter Chamber of Commerce
Rachael Davis	Professional Learner Award	Exeter Airport
Jonah Gibbon	Reach Academy Award	Kislingbury Property Consultants
Emma Booth	School of Art Award	InExeter
Alex Silis	Skills for Life Award	Peninsula Project Consulting
Merryn Doidge	Sports Academy Award	SW Comms
William Thomas	The #ExeCollProud Award	Devon County Council
Luke Bearpark	Vocational Excellence Award	Willmott Dixon
Luke Hawkes	Vocational Excellence Award	Devon Live
James Duffy	Vocational Excellence Award	Exeter City Community Trust
Millie Reynolds	Vocational Excellence Award	Stagecoach

Want to continue your education journey with Exeter College? Register now for our Showcase on April 23rd with every course Exeter College has to offer under one roof.