For the first year ever CREATE 2017 - CONEL’s Creative and Computing End of Year Show joined forces with its glittering annual Graduation ceremony – to celebrate a superb evening of art, culture and achievement. Attended by around 500 students, including friends, families, apprentices and partner employers - the combined event was held last week (29 June 2017) at the Bernie Grant Arts Centre. Mayor for Haringey Councillor Stephen Mann also attended with his wife Councillor Jennifer Mann.
Graduates from the 2017 ceremony.
Garylee McFarlane Games and Animation Level 3 progressing to the Games and Animation Higher National Certificate Level 4 displays his work at the show.
CREATE presents the best of each student’s work and the show organisers transformed BGAC into a dynamic and fun filled interactive gallery for the night, displaying, graphic design and concept artwork, also creating a video gallery and animation and computer games hub. To check out our Creative and media courses click here.
College Principal Andy Forbes tries his hand at a ‘first person shooter’ in the Games Hub.
Tobe Maduegbuna, said: “My work is titled ‘Life in the UK’ and I travelled to Stratford, Walthamstow and Trafalgar Square to take pictures of each location and find the character of each.
Tobe Maduegbuna.
Ines Santos said: “The culture of Camden and Shoreditch inspired me to take pictures for my work.”
Ines Santos.
The lively chatter and excitement of the exhibition, faded slightly as guests took their seats for the Media Showcase. Film reels played, from animated manga to documentary, interspersed by performances from Music students. The mood and feel ranged from light and charming, with animated penguins raising plenty of laughs to a harrowing documentary, which focused on a social media channel encouraging people to self-harm.
Computing students hand create their own video games arcade.
Laila Hassanzadeh, Head of School for Creative and Computing said of the Showcase event: “It’s really motivational for students to prepare for the show as they are inspired to work to their highest level, knowing that their work will be viewed and appreciated by others.”
Graduation 2017 followed the Media Showcase and marked the successes of CONEL’s higher education, access to university and postgrad students, as well as advanced apprentices and partner employers.
Over 100 students crossed the stage to rapturous applause and included partner employers Berkeley Homes, the Royal Free NHS Hospital Trust and Siemens.
Stav Aristokle Hill with Gary Barnard of Berkeley Homes receive their partner employer award from Keith Brown CONEL Chair of Governors (left).
Stav Aristokle Hill, Apprenticeship Programme Manager at Berkeley Homes said, “We currently employ around ten CONEL apprentices and we are looking to increase this to around 30-40 this September. The College has been really helpful in accommodating what we need specifically as a company.”
Mek Mehmet-Yesil, 47, was among many Access to Nursing students who crossed the stage that night. Mek said: “It’s been my ambition to work in healthcare since I was 18 as I’ve always felt compassion for others and wanted to help and care for people. Now I’m hoping to go to university and study adult nursing or medical sciences.
“The teaching at CONEL has been fantastic. I’ve had the most amazing tutors who’ve given me so much encouragement to do well. I’m feeling really good about my future.”
Left to right: Access to Nursing classmates Lydia Adamu, Mary Aninwoya, Mek Mehmet-Yesil and Chisom Obioha.
Andy Forbes, CONEL Principal and Chief Executive said of Graduation: “This ceremony recognises the work and commitment that our students, apprentices and partner employers put into their work and gives them the opportunity to feel the pride they so richly deserve.”