Our annual student award ceremony made a triumphant return last night, offering an evening filled with laughter, celebration and cherished new memories.

Tutors, students and families gathered at the iconic Victoria Theatre in Halifax to reflect on and honour the remarkable achievements of the past year at the College’s Inspire Awards. Listening to the student success stories, accomplishments, and stellar performances made this another memorable awards night.

Calderdale College set up a night to remember for its star students, with individuals nominated for a variety of prestigious awards, including Young Person of the Year, Adult Student of the Year, Resilience Award, Outstanding Attitude Award, Calderdale College’s Award and Apprentice of the Year. The surprise award of the evening was the Keith McDonald Inspirational Student of the Year, who was selected from the high number of strong nominations across the main categories.

The event saw over 500 visitors from Calderdale and the surrounding area, including partners and governors.

The celebrations kicked off with a lively performance from The Caymans, a local up-and-coming band comprised of Calderdale College music degree students,– then it finally came down to the awards.

First up was the ‘Outstanding Attitude’ award, which went to the student who has demonstrated a positive outlook while at the College, as well as a commitment to their time here, sponsored by Simprint. The winner of this award was Ziona Pinney.

The ‘Apprentice of the Year’ award, sponsored by K2, came next in the line-up and was presented to Sandis Mazinskis who has excelled in his coursework and in his relationships with his employer over the course of the year.

‘Adult Student of the Year’, sponsored by Calder Construction & Shop Fitting Ltd, was presented to a student who showed exceptional dedication and performance to their studies throughout the course of the academic year. This award was won by Daniel Cooper.

Next was the ‘Young Person of the Year’ award, which went to Jemma Fuller after showing a year-long commitment to her studies and overall exceptional performance. This award was sponsored by L.A.W Joinery.

Visitors of the Inspire Awards then enjoyed a moving rendition of Halleluiah by the College’s Ukrainian ensemble, the Hearts Apart Choir, before continuing on with the evening’s awards.

The ‘Calderdale’s College Award’ is our social action award, for a group of students who, during their time at the College this year, have organised a project aimed at giving back to the local community. The Hearts Apart Choir were the winners of this award, sponsored by Calder Valley Line Community Rail Partnership.

Next in the awards line-up was the ‘Apprenticeship Employer Choice Award’, where employers nominated their apprentices to receive recognition for their achievements. This year’s winner was Eleanor Ward who is undertaking a Business Administrator Apprenticeship at the Calderdale & Huddersfield NHS Trust in the Radiology Department.

The ‘Resilience Award’, sponsored by O&M Electrical was given to a student who has overcome significant obstacles that have previously affected their education, either personally or academically. Hongzhi Sun was the winner in this category.

Before the final prize of the Inspire Awards 2024, ballet dancer and Calderdale College student, Hero Silverwood performed an incredible jazz performance. Then it was onto the Keith McDonald Inspirational Student of the Year Award, presented to the student who epitomises excellence in learning and growth and has made a positive impact and some remarkable achievements. This award went to Bethany Burrell.

The evening was testament to the hard work, dedication, and resilience of Calderdale College students, making it a night to remember for all who attended.