Achievements of CFE students recognised
AN UPLIFTING ceremony was a brilliant send-off for College of Further Education students yesterday.
Beau Sejour’s theatre hosted the annual Celebration of Achievement awards.
Students of the year were named from each full-time course before an overall college student of the year was selected.
Sovereign Group sponsors another award for the student who contributed most to the community or charities outside their studies.
‘Every year it’s impossible to choose winners because every single student deserves recognition for what they have been through,’ said principal Louise Misselke.
‘All have different start and end points and all have been so successful.’
Tutors are asked to nominate students for course performance and personal achievement and those who make significant progress.
‘It’s not just about the academic achievements, but the range of things surrounding the person.’
Mrs Misselke said it was a ceremony full of joy and happiness to celebrate all students, who had done brilliantly while juggling lockdowns.
‘This sort of event really showcases how young people can shine at the College of Further Education, which is part of the new Guernsey Institute moving forward,’ she said.
‘We have a very exciting future ahead of us, but more importantly our students all have very bright futures ahead. It is a very uplifting time.’
College student of the year went to Jenny Naftel, a 17-year-old health and social care level 3 student, who said she was excited, happy and proud.
‘I was absolutely not expecting it, it was a huge surprise,’ she said.
‘There were 13 other nominees put forward by their teachers and tutor. My tutor [Karen Dover] said some very lovely things about helping and motivating people.
‘My parents don’t know yet, they’re my next phone call. My mum will be so proud and so will my dad.’
After the ceremony, students on her course were having a picnic to celebrate.
‘My course has been going really well, I’m finishing this week and then going to the Institute for further study. After that I’ll stay here, I’m a home girl.’
Sovereign Award winner Elainer Laine, 18, studies creative and digital art.
Outside college she plays the French horn with the Guernsey Music Service, works at the Folk & Costume Museum for the National Trust of Guernsey, and volunteers for the States Archaeology Group on excavations and for the Youth Forum.
‘I really don’t know where I find the time,’ Miss Laine said. ‘I cry, that’s my coping mechanism. It sounds very cheesy, but my friends and family are really supportive, and give me that space to get it out.’
After the summer she hopes to study archaeology, anthropology and art history at the University of East Anglia.
n Tonight is the college’s leavers’ ball.
