(L to Rt) Leo Murphy, NWRC Principal, Jordan McElwee, Limavady, John Hegarty, Fujitsu
The inaugural awards ceremony was held at the Armagh City Hotel on Tuesday night with award categories reflecting the wide spectrum of learning levels and pathways available at the Further Education Colleges, from introductory and supported learning to apprenticeships, higher education and lifelong learning.
The ceremony was opened by the Economy Minister Conor Murphy who said: “I was delighted to attend these awards to celebrate the achievements of excellence by both students and staff across the further education sector.
“My economic vision has skills at its core and further education colleges have a significant role to play in delivering a regionally balanced economy with good jobs, higher productivity and which is reducing its carbon output.
“I commend our colleges, our students, our staff, and all who support you, for all that you do, and will continue to do, to support the north’s economy.
“I want to see and hear more of this excellence and for further education colleges to continue to collaborate, to lead, and to take their rightful place in the story of our improving economic outlook.”
The evening heard how so many award recipients have improved their job and life skills thanks to the incredible effort they have made during their studies at their local college.
This included Matthew McBride, a hospitality student at the Limavady campus who received the FE Excellence Award for Introductory Programme.
Matthew has proven himself extremely capable in the Hospitality and Tourism sector and recently began working at the Roe Valley resort where he has impressed his employers with a strong work ethic.
Recently Matthew assisted TV chef Paula McIntyre at the Taste Causeway event at The Roe Valley Arts & Cultural Centre as a commis chefs.
He also had the opportunity to commis to Rick Stein’s head chef Stephane Delourme and to Lir Seafood head chef Stevie McCarry.
He was commended for being is a fantastic ambassador who rolls up his sleeves to help with college events and open days.
Also among those honoured was Amy Crawford from Castlederg, who was given the FE Excellence Award for Lifelong Learning.
Amy has been studying the Access Diploma in Health and Welfare at the College’s Strabane campus.
Studying at Strabane was the perfect move for Amy as she was able to study part-time close to home.
Staff Recognition Awards for Lifetime Contributions were also presented on the night to two NWRC staff for their service to the College and the local community, Pauline McShane, Senior Administrator with the Exams Office at Strand Road and Ivor Neill, a lecturer at Limavady.
Pauline McShane has worked at the college for 35 years and was commended for her high professional standards around compliance and regulation as well as ensuring students have all supports necessary for their exams.
Ivor Neill works at the Limavady campus, where he has been a leading lecturer in the sports department for more than 40 years and continues to display the same enthusiasm for teaching as when he first started.
He is also known for being somewhat of a strongman, as he takes part in activities such as crossfit, sailing, motorcycling and was also cast as the Viking ship skipper in blockbuster movie The Northman.
(L to R) Amy Carson, Castlederg, Paul Clancy, NWRC Governing Body, Leo Murphy, NWRC Principal, Dayne Roberts, Derry~ Londonderry, Pauline McShane, Strand Rd campus, Jordan McElwee, Limavady.
He said: “I am immensely proud to celebrate the achievements and commitment of our students and staff in the fields of Apprenticeships, Traineeships, Introductory Programmes, Level 3 Diplomas, Higher Education and Lifelong Learning.
“We’re living through a transformative time in terms of skills, the education landscape is changing with new and exciting career paths for our learners.
“The Further Education sector has moved with those times in supporting and nurturing the superb talent we have across our colleges that will ensure the future success of our local economy.
“And of course that would not be possible without the dedication of our staff, so it is right to see them recognised for their decades of service to our colleges as well.”
FE Excellence Award recipients from NWRC were as follows:
• FE Excellence Award for Introductory Programme Matthew McBride (Limavady)
• FE Excellence Award for Supported Learning Paul Swann (Drumahoe)
• FE Excellence Award for Level 2/Traineeship Ayat Abdelrazek (Derry)
• FE Excellence Award for School Partnership Programme Mark Jeffers (Coleraine)
• FE Excellence Award for Level 3 Further Education Dayne Roberts (Derry)
• FE Excellence Award for Higher Education Bronagh McDermott (Derry)
• FE Excellence Award for Lifelong Learning Amy Crawford (Castlederg)
• FE Excellence Apprentice Award presented by Fujitsu Jordan McElwee (Limavady)
Staff Lifetime Achievement Winners on the night were:
Pauline McShane, Senior Administrator, Exams Office, Strand Rd
Ivor Neill, Lecturer, Uniformed Protective Services, NWRC, Limavady.
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