Two Bridgwater College students have won awards at the annual Adult Learning Award ceremony for the South West region, held at the Grand Pier, Weston-super-Mare.
Julie Merrett, who has just completed her Foundation Degree in Countryside Management, run in partnership with Oxford Bookes University, was a proud winner of an Individual Learning Award, which follows on from her Octavia Hill Award (organised by the National Trust, the Wild Network and BBC Countryfile Magazine) earlier in the year and recognises her accomplishment of achieving her Degree whilst juggling family commitments and extensive volunteer work at Somerset Wildlife Trust.
Julie, from Godney near Wells said,
“I have been involved in voluntary work with the aim of bringing children and adults to connect, appreciate and understand the natural world around them, for about the last 17 years. It’s what I love to do. It means the world to me to have my work acknowledged and appreciated like this.”
Nigel Cox, Programme Manager for Countryside Management and Julie’s tutor said,
“It is a particular pleasure for me to see the progression Julie has made through her Degree. The awards she has received are a great recognition of her dedication and commitment to learning. Not only has she been a distinctive student, it has enabled her to achieve her ambition of working in the countryside industry, as she has now secured a post as a reserve warden with the Somerset Wildlife Trust.”
Lorna Mullins, who is just finishing her HND Sports Science programme at Bridgwater College before continuing to University of Gloucester to top-up, was a proud winner of an Individual Learning Award. Lorna was awarded this prize for overcoming many personal obstacles in her return to studying. However, throughout the course she has maintained excellent standards and has obtained a Distinction grade in almost every module.
Max Sauter, Programme Manager for Sports Science said,
“Lorna is one of those rare, driven students, who set their minds to achieve success, and will strive to achieve this, overcoming many obstacles.”
