Learners efforts recognised

The event was the culmination of months of hard work and study by students at Darlington College.

A packed audience of family and VIP guests at Darlington's Civic Theatre watched a procession of honours bestowed on recipients aged from teenagers to adults.

ITV Tyne Tees presenter Pam Royle joined Darlington College media and arts assistant director and former BBC radio journalist John Oley in hosting the ceremony.

She told the audience: "It has been another ground-breaking year for Darlington College. As a journalist I have always been aware of Darlington College's outstanding reputation for producing newshounds. But all the students really are a credit to themselves, their families and the college."

Mr Oley added: "We have almost 600 staff working to give thousands of students the best possible start to life."

The comperes highlighted the successes achieved over the year and the plans for the future.

These include the construction of a university centre next to the college in partnership with Darlington Borough Council and the University of Teesside.

The college also plans to revolutionise the catering and hospitality industry in the North-East with the building of a multi-million pound hotel and spa run by catering and beauty staff and students.

A number of celebrity guests presented the awards including Darlington defender Alan White, ITV Tyne Tees managing director Graeme Thompson and Alpha Radio breakfast presenter Tim West.

Guests were also entertained by classical pianist Dean Stockdale, who works in the college's IT department, a display of hair and beauty creations, the trick footballing skills of sports students and video giving guests greater insight into college life.

Darlington College's principal and chief executive Sarah Robinson said: "Many of our students overcome personal challenges every day to succeed at college and it is only right that we celebrate their efforts in such style."

Chairman of the college board Alasdair MacConachie added: "The awards ceremony is a fantastic occasion which recognises the hard work and commitment of all of our students, staff and partner agencies.

"There is a real buzz to the proceedings and it inspires us to move forward with renewed vigour in the coming year."

The award winners were: Sports and Uniformed Services, sponsored by Darlington Football Club: Adam Pearson, Sarah Greaves, Aidan Gadass, Kayleigh Edge, Lee Jennison, Nick Outhwaite, Jade Levey, Ben Walker; Hotel, Hospitality and Catering, sponsored by Headlam Hall Hotel: Rachel White, Dean Kindleysides, Lyndsey Bainbridge, Michaela Hanna, Gina Gatty, Aranganathan Vengatachalam, Stuart Hill, Rebecca Sibbald, Adam Fenwick, Aimee Gibson, Katie Mallon, Kerrie McKenna; Construction, sponsored by NCBF: Alan Souter, Andrew Twist, Jaime Taylor, James Smith, Edward Pearson, Chris Grayshon, Lloyd Parkinson, Andrea Spanner, Anthony Timms, Paul Ward, Dale Creighton, David Illingworth; Childcare, Health and Social Care, sponsored by ABLE: Sarah Benson, Jade Bruce, Amy Bailey, Martin Ashby, Elizabeth Morris, Leanne Wainwright, Caitlin Simpson, Jamie Woodend, Hayley Wood, Jane Rogers, Joanne Iverson; Hairdressing and Beauty Therapy, sponsored by Dennis Williams Hair and Beauty Superstore: Monika Silkauskaite, Rachael Willis, Chelsea Wilkinson, Caroline Dooley, Erin Robinson, Sarah Hipkiss, Abbi Curry, Jade Bale, Jade Wilcox, Lauren Tait; Journalism and Media, sponsored by ITV Tyne Tees Television: Shelley-Ann Staines, Andrew Glover, David Seymour, Andy Richardson, Kate Liptrot, Rachael Burford, Christopher Hole, Antoinette Fisher, Dan Bowman, Robert Barker; Art and Design, sponsored by Fusion Creative Services: Fraser Hilton, Pauline Pentony, Natasha Wright, Emma McGinley, Luis Bachini, Nicola Bulmer; Engineering, sponsored by Thyssen Krupp Tallent Ltd: Anthony Stonehouse, Josh Harbour, Ben Cooper, Alex Grant, Mathew Scott, Anthony Jackson, Neil Dodds, Nathan Wilkinson, Scott Allen, Dean Chrich, Anthony Rootham, Craig Watters, Sean Nicholson, Lee Waller, Steven Schofield, Michael Price, Robert Coulson, Danny Knowles, Peter Rennard, Craig Langan, Liam Kelly, Chris Scott, Tom Bruce, Paul Butterworth; Pre 16 and Skills Plus, sponsored by French and Lamming Media Ltd: Alex Meredith, Hayley Pritchard, Sean Todd, Danny Fisher, Andrew Robinson, Rachel MacDonald, Peter Smith, Jamie Saunders, Chantelle Harrison, Sarah Dooley, Jack Woodcock, Paul Binney, Adam Townsend, Craig Simpson, Chloe Beckwith, Margita Lakatosova, Kirsty Gourley, Ashleigh Pounder, Reece Girard, Gavin Dodsworth, David Marshall, Stephen Kolodziej, Shaun Beckwith, Thomas Rowell, Ryan French; Higher Education, sponsored by Alpha Radio: Angela Smith, Susan Thompson, Dee Miller, Andrew Wears, Anna Binks, Clare England, Christine Straub, Elaine Howland-Davenport, Jayne Ralphs, John Cooke, Diana Cole, Nina Lumsden, Emily Beaumont, Neil Jones, Vicky Edwards, Graham Speed, David Hole, David Greenwell, Anna Smith, James Kirkham, Tracey Jagodzinski; Computing and Business Administration, sponsored by Oyez Straker: Jamie-Lee McLeish, Claire Louise Hunter, Richard Borsberry, Tim Foggin, Glen Wheeler, David Bake, Daniel Clarke, Dan Jenner, Byron Williams; Pathways and Life Skills, sponsored by Vantis: Nicola Blewitt, Denise Percival, Layla Hilton, Louis Atkins, Susan Toulson, Diane Farrell, David Hindle, Donna Horlsey, Emma Williamson, James Thompson, Ryan Wilson, Francesca Herron; Work Based Learning, sponsored by Shepherd Construction Ltd: Michael Fairley, Thomas Kilpatrick, Graeme Heald, Charlotte Ewbank, Shaun O'Connor, Scott MacKenzie, James Davison, Kendra Godard; Darlington College at Catterick, sponsored by Direct Signs: Damien Place, Level 4 Learning and Development; Representatives from regiments: Guardsman Terry Bullion from the Guards Training Company, Rifleman Suraj Rai from the Gurkha Company, Private Craig Smith from Kings Division, Private Ryan Saunders from Queens Division, Private Ben Hawton-Clark from the Parachute Company, Private Samuel Sharp from the Prince of Wales Division, Rifleman Liam Giles from the Rifles Division, Private Ryan Bradshaw from the Scots Division.