A STUDENT has been awarded £1,000 to help him through university because of the effort he made to get there.

David Barker, of Billingham, Teesside, was awarded the cash after he showed exceptional determination to further his studies.

The 18-year-old former Hartlepool College student was one of the most successful graduates of the BTEC national diploma last year, despite joining the course with the minimum entry requirements.

He has now started a degree in criminology at the University of Teesside and plans to use his cash award to finance his studies.

After his degree, he aims to join the police force.

David was awarded the £1,000 for being the most successful student on the University of Teesside's Passport to Achievement scheme.

The passport project encourages people of all ages and backgrounds to go into higher education.

Fourteen other new university students were also awarded £100 in recognition of their efforts at a ceremony in Middlesbrough earlier this month.

As well as David, the University of Teesside has welcomed seven other of this year's Passport graduates.

They are: Julie Dunn, from Middlesbrough College, now studying a diploma in nursing studies; Kelly Walton, from Stokesley School, now studying BSc (Hons) human biology; Jennifer Pigott, from Prior Pursglove College, now studying a diploma in nursing studies; Samantha Lindsey, from Queen Elizabeth Sixth Form College, Darlington, now studying LLB (Hons) law with criminology; Craig Thornton, of Stockton Riverside College, now studying an HND in sport and exercise; Jacqueline Thompson of Middlesbrough College, now studying BSc (Hons) diagnostic radiography and Christine Beasley of Bishop Auckland College, now studying BSc (Hons) criminology.

The rest have gone on to universities around the country, including Kevin Bolton, from Hartlepool College of Further Education, now studying BSc (Hons) physiotherapy at Northumbria University; Laura Dicker, of Hartlepool Sixth Form College, now studying MEng (Hons) aerospace engineering at the University of Liverpool; Jeanette Seers, from Darlington College of Technology, now studying BSc (Hons) multimedia at London Metropolitan University; Paul McGarrity, from Macmillan College, Middlesbrough, now studying BA (Hons) archaeology at University College London; Kate Shields, from Derwentside College, now studying BA (Hons) business studies at Northumbria University; Emily Waites, from Middlesbrough College, now studying BA (Hons) dance with performing arts at Middlesex University, and Ashley Horsley, from English Martyrs Sixth Form College, Stockton, now studying an MSc in molecular and cellular biochemistry at the University of Oxford.