Crawley college students win personal achievement awards

Three students from Central Sussex College were honoured this month for their outstanding academic and personal achievement against the odds, at the annual FE Sussex Spring Awards.
By The Newsroom
Published 9th May 2016, 14:25 BST
Updated 9th May 2016, 15:27 BST
Central Sussex College students honoured in the FE Sussex Spring Awards held at the Hilton Brighton Metropole on Wednesday 4 May 2016. L-R Winner Shanley Cerff, Runner up Chloe Sanderson, College Vice Principal Curriculum, Clare Wallace (back), College Vice Prinicpal Curriculum, Dean Wynter, and College Vice Principal Quality and Standards, Simon Friend - picture submitted by Central Sussex CollegeCentral Sussex College students honoured in the FE Sussex Spring Awards held at the Hilton Brighton Metropole on Wednesday 4 May 2016. L-R Winner Shanley Cerff, Runner up Chloe Sanderson, College Vice Principal Curriculum, Clare Wallace (back), College Vice Prinicpal Curriculum, Dean Wynter, and College Vice Principal Quality and Standards, Simon Friend - picture submitted by Central Sussex College
Central Sussex College students honoured in the FE Sussex Spring Awards held at the Hilton Brighton Metropole on Wednesday 4 May 2016. L-R Winner Shanley Cerff, Runner up Chloe Sanderson, College Vice Principal Curriculum, Clare Wallace (back), College Vice Prinicpal Curriculum, Dean Wynter, and College Vice Principal Quality and Standards, Simon Friend - picture submitted by Central Sussex College

The college was well represented at the prestigious ceremony which celebrates achievements in academic and vocational education and training, with one winner and two runners-up collecting awards.

Performing Arts students provided the mid-evening entertainment, performing a medley of tunes from their recent sell-out production of the Olivier award-winning musical, Our House.

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Professional Cookery student from Crawley, Shanley Cerff, 18, was named the winner of the ‘Hospitality Student of the Year’ award, sponsored by the Hilton Brighton Metropole.

Shanley has overcome serious anxiety and depression to become a stand-out student who works confidently in the college’s restaurant and production kitchens. Driven by her passion for hospitality and catering, Shanley’s lecturers say that she ‘has made substantial progress since the start of her course’ and ‘has a bright future ahead of her’.

Shanley said: “It’s an amazing feeling to win this award. I couldn’t believe it when I found out that I’d won. Knowing that I can achieve something like this has given me a huge confidence boost. It’s incredible. I’m so happy!”

Fellow Professional Cookery student, Chloe Sanderson, from East Grinstead, was awarded runner up in the ‘City and Guilds Sussex Learner of the Year’ category. Chloe, 17, joined the college in September last year to pursue her love of cooking. Having been home taught after leaving secondary school due to bullying in Year 8, choosing to come to college was a big step.

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Chloe has progressed leaps and bounds, forming a solid friendship group within her class and becoming increasingly confident in her work.

Third to be honoured was business student Brian Boodhram, 19, from Crawley, who was named runner up of the ‘Pearson Award for Most Improved Learner’. Brian first joined the college in 2010 on a Public Services course but opted to leave before completion, going on to coach young football players.

Unsatisfied with the direction his life was heading, Brian re-joined the college in September 2015 to study Level 2 Business, bringing with him a new found enthusiasm for learning.

The trio were praised by Business lecturer, Teresa Coote and lecturer in Hospitality, Jenny Thomas who said the awards were well deserved.