A STUDENT who lost everything in a fire yet didn’t miss a single lesson at college has been rewarded for her resilience with the top prize at a prestigious awards ceremony.
Darlington College catering student Leanne Weeks was presented with the Principal’s Award at a glittering spectacular staged at the town’s Hullabaloo Theatre. She also collected the Full-Time Further Education Award and the Curriculum Managers Award.
Six months ago an electrical fault at her flat in Richmond sparked a fire that completely destroyed all of her belongings and left her homeless. Luckily she was out at the time so was unharmed.
Friends rallied round with accommodation and clothing and the awards ceremony heard that Leanne hadn’t missed a single lesson despite the trauma.
“I received a phone call telling me that my flat was on fire and I lost absolutely everything,” she recalled.
“I didn’t know what to think but my friends came straight round to help me. I’ve just moved into a new flat six months later. I’ve got some great friends.”
Leanne joined Darlington College five years ago from Northallerton School and enrolled on the Next Steps course. She then completed level 1 catering and pastry, level 2 food and beverage, level 2 culinary skills and is now studying for her level 3 food and beverage.
She hopes one day to work front of house in a hotel. “I was shocked when I heard my name called out for the Principal’s Award,” Leanne said. “I knew I was receiving two awards but not the top one and I was delighted.”
The audience heard from compere and journalist Peter Barron that Leanne was “a fabulous ambassador for the catering department”.
He said: “She has been through a lot but has kept focused and has proven that she is a very competent student and adult. She has excelled in a lot of ways and has developed her knowledge skills and behaviours tenfold. She has become a model student for others to emulate.”
The awards evening saw dozens of accolades handed out to students by Darlington College principal and chief executive David Gartland and deputy principal Carole Todd.
Mr Gartland told the students and their families: “We are blessed with a huge number of talented people at our college and you have been selected by lecturers as exceptional students who have done exceptional things. You should feel very proud as you are part of a very select group.
“Have confidence in your next steps but never be afraid to ask for help, never be afraid to say you are not sure, but also never be afraid to have an opinion, as it is so important that your voice is heard.”
Other award winners were:
Frankie Nelson, Gurdas Hundal, Henry Ward, Mohamed Ghrer, Jody Parry, Layton Hore, Jamie Lee Hope, Cole Davidson, Oliver Alderson, Leila Abdul Karmine, Chelsie Vickers, Matilda Raper, Jade Robertson, Joseph Lyndon-Joseph, Casey Hodgkins, Connie Lee, Steven Geall, Hassam Ahmed, Andrew Lacey, Hollie Vayro, Elliot Kenneally, Thomas Goodliffe, Finlay Brown, Michael Carney, Wayne Smirthwaite and Mohamad Behzadi.
For more information on opportunities at Darlington College visit www.darlington.ac.uk.
