CONEL Principal Andy Forbes surrounded by this year's Excellence Award winners.
Students and apprentices celebrated as the College of Haringey, Enfield and North East London (CONEL) held its annual Excellence Awards.
Seventy-five learners received awards in recognition of their achievements at a glitzy ceremony at the College’s Tottenham Centre on 5 December.
Principal Andy Forbes introduced each of the winners before Sarah Ebanja, Chair of the CONEL Local Advisory Board, presented them with their awards.
The winners, from across each of the College’s curriculum areas, were put forward by their tutors, with two being chosen to receive Exceptional Performance Excellence Awards.
This year's Exceptional Performance Excellence Award winners, Electrical Installations student Daanyal Parvez and Beauty Therapy student Nese Aslan, and Paul Head Excellence Award winner Lucy Mazur.
This year’s Exceptional Performance Excellence Award winners were Electrical Installations student Daanyal Parvez and Beauty Therapy student Nese Aslan.
Daanyal, 20, said: “I am absolutely shocked to be chosen out of so many students.
“I really put the time and effort into doing everything properly. My teachers really believed in me and helped me to succeed and prepared me to get a job.”
Nese, 31, whose father died recently, said: “When I completed my course I told my dad how well I‘d done and he was really happy, and I know he would be very proud of me now.
“I really enjoyed my time at CONEL. There were times when I thought I might give up but my teachers were so supportive, and I can’t thank them all enough.”
The ceremony also saw the presentation of the Paul Head Excellence Award, named after the College’s former principal, for a learner who has made outstanding progress over the year.
Mr Head’s wife Victoria Phillips presented this award to Supported Learning student Lucy Mazur.
Lucy, 21, said: “This means a lot. I’ve never got an award before. I am pleased my teachers have recognised me and with what I have achieved.
“I’ve learnt a lot at college and on work experience. It’s made me more independent and confident.”
Shanique McKoy and Joseph Pascoe, from CONEL’s music education partner SoundSkool, under their stage names Shaniqua and Joe.Seph, performed their own compositions Dangerous Me and Changed on the night.
Seven employees at CONEL receive Staff Excellence Awards at the ceremony for their superb work throughout the year, and a further five who have worked or more years at the College presented with Long Service Awards.
Employer Excellence Awards were presented to eight organisations that have worked with the College to offer apprenticeships and work placements - Breyer Group, Eagle Nursery, Halo London, Kelly Rail, St Mary’s CE Primary School, Next Step Support, Price Building Services and Sequence Care Group.
Payal Puri, Senior HR Adviser at Sequence Care Group, said: “This award is great recognition of our partnership with CONEL. We have an excellent working relationship with the College and the apprenticeship training and service has been excellent.”
Entertainment on the night was provided by Shanique McKoy and Joseph Pascoe, from CONEL’s music education partner SoundSkool, under their stage names Shaniqua and Joe.Seph, who performed their own compositions Dangerous Me and Changed.
Principal Andy Forbes said: “I would like to congratulate all our students, apprentices, staff and partner employers and join them in celebrating their success. They can be very proud of their achievements.”