A STUDENT is planning to transform his future after securing a top scholarship to study mechanical engineering.
Former Darlington College student Baljinder Singh has been awarded the Vice Chancellor’s Scholarship by Teesside University where he is a studying a B.Eng.
The prestigious award was made after the 19-year-old achieved the best possible marks of three distinctions in his first year exams.
His mechanical engineering degree will be the first step towards his goal of launching a business with his brother Balkar, who is studying IT at Darlington College.
Their dream is to combine their skills in IT, animation and engineering to produce the action toys of the future, similar to the merchandise that supports Hollywood blockbusters such as Transformers.
The brothers came to Darlington in 2010 from their family home in Punjab, India.
Baljinder studied a Level 3 extended diploma in engineering at Darlington College and was offered a place at Teesside University.
He said: “Darlington College was a really good place, especially the teaching. My tutors, including Rob Elliott and Lee Childs, have so much knowledge and energy; it is marvellous.
When I arrived in England I could read and write in English okay but wasn’t very good at conversation but the college really helped with that too."
He said he was thrilled to secure a scholarship, which was recognition of all his hard work and would help him with his future studies.
“After our studies we hope to stay in England and launch our own business,” he said.
“My brother is very creative and would design the action toys. I would then use my engineering skills to manufacture them. Toys are a huge business so we can see massive potential.”
For more information on opportunities at Darlington College visit www.darlington.ac.uk.
