A ZIMBABWEAN asylum seeker has been crowned Student of the Year in a new awards scheme that celebrates the best of the Tees Valley's youth.

Manake Ndebele fled her home country of Zimbabwe to escape the troubles of the regime.

Three years later, she has not only mastered the English language, but has achieved so much in her studies that she has been selected for the Tees Valley further education (FE) award.

Manake grew up in the city of Bulawayo, where her parents still live. It was when she moved to a remote area of the country to teach that the problems arose.

She said: "Non-governmental organisations in opposition to the government were working in the area distributing food.

"As a teacher, I was a civil servant and had to follow the ruling party. But I used to go around helping distribute the food, and that is when I had trouble."

She fled and managed to find her brother in London, where they were reunited last June.

Manake was granted leave to stay in the UK and quickly started working as a volunteer at Hartlepool and District Hospice before she enrolled at Hartlepool College on the access to health studies course.

To help finance her way through college, she secured a job in a local business and embarked on a work placement at the University Hospital of Hartlepool.

Now living in student accommodation in Thornaby, she has decided on a career in radiography and is studying for a degree at Teesside University.

Thousands of students vied for top honours in the FE Awards, which celebrate young people and their work.

FE+, a partnership of Tees Valley Colleges, staged the first joint awards ceremony with the backing of the Government and leading companies, including the Royal Bank of Scotland, Huntsman Tioxide, the University of Teesside and The Northern Echo.

With prize money totalling almost £4,000, winners were chosen in 11 categories, with an overall winner.

Taking part in the competition were students from Cleveland College of Art and Design, Darlington College of Technology, Hartlepool College of Further Education, Middlesbrough College, Redcar and Cleveland College and Stockton Riverside College.

An independent panel of judges, made up of representatives of FE+ and sponsors, selected the 11 category winners and the overall student of the year.

Results were announced last night at an awards ceremony and gala dinner for about 600 guests, held at Tall Trees, Yarm.

FE+ marketing chairman David Waddington said: "The competition provided a high-profile opportunity to showcase the remarkable success of learners in the further education sector. It reinforced the significant contribution that Tees Valley colleges are making to support the Government's Skill Strategy."

Peter Barron, the Editor of The Northern Echo, said: "These award winners, the nominees and the thousands of students who were considered are a shining example to us all and reflect the bright future this region has to look forward to."

The event also marked the launch of a publication, The Impact of Further Education in the Tees Valley. The first edition included student success stories, articles on the influence of further education on the economy and colleges' plans.