The success of young people in Grays has been celebrated with a special evening dedicated to them.
USP College Palmer’s Campus welcomed leavers from this summer and last at its prize-giving event.
The celebration – which had to be cancelled last year due to the death of the Queen – brought together former students, their friends and family and tutors to celebrate their achievements.
Awards were given out during the evening, with William Palmer College Educational Trust among the organisations sponsoring awards and giving prize money to recipients.
There were a total of 300 winners, with many attending the event – including one former student who travelled from Portsmouth to celebrate their achievements.
“I am shocked to be an award winner. This award recognises the progress I made and the effort and drive I put in throughout the year.
My teachers and the staff I have met along my journey have supported me all the way to success and have helped me tremendously. They were there for me and I cannot thank them enough. They truly shaped my mindset into what it is today.”
The college offers a career-focused learning strategy to ensure students leave with the knowledge and skills needed to stand out for high-end careers.
Students are able to work with industry experts in various career sectors, learning career-specific skills not covered in the traditional curriculum, boosting their employability and study skills.
Former student governors Nicole Dragos – who attended after landing from her holiday at 4am that day - and Maisie Crosby congratulated winners. Nicole, who now works in publishing, said: “The skills and opportunities gained from being a student governor have really supported me. It was a great opportunity and helped me with my confidence as I was able to attend corporation and senior management meetings.”
“The prize-giving ceremony celebrating our Palmer’s Campus students was a fantastic evening filled with joy, fulfilment and celebration. Throughout the evening, we celebrated both academic success and personal development from the students’ time with us.
These evenings are a reminder of what they have overcome and can achieve before they progress onto their next steps.
We thank all our continued sponsors and the William Palmer Educational College Trust for supporting events like these and our students.”