STUDENTS from across York, North and East Yorkshire were rewarded for their hard work at a festive gathering.

York College held it’s 2016 A-Level awards evening for students who excelled in their studies this year. They were recognised and rewarded for their achievements at an event held at the Merchant Taylors Hall in York.

Glyn Jones, the college’s assistant principal for A-Levels, welcomed the prize winning students and their families and college principal Dr Alison Birkinshaw gave an introductory speech.

An address was also given by guest speaker Claire Harrop; herself a former A-Level student at York College who is now an associate lawyer with international law firm Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer.

The evening began with a drinks reception, with accompanying music by members of the York College jazz band and rounded off with a drinks reception, with accompanying music by members of the York College jazz band.

The evening ended with a Vote of Thanks by Shirley Collier, chairman of governors. Glyn Jones, assistant principal for A-Levels, said: “Having mostly returned from their first term at universities up and down the country, we were extremely pleased to see so many of our hardworking and talented former students sharing their successes with family members, tutors and supporters and partners of the college.

“The ceremony gave us a lovely opportunity to meet up with our students again, to share in their university experiences and to congratulate them once more on their superb A-Level achievements. They are excellent role models for our current, younger students and we are extremely proud of them.”

A-Level Student of the Year Prize Winners 2016:

Biology - Felicity Hunter (formerly home educated); Chemistry - Tom Smith (formerly Millthorpe School); Earth Science – Daniel Platt (formerly Tadcaster Grammar School); Ancient History – Brittany Pickering (formerly Barlby High School); History – Bethany Fairburn (formerly Manor CE School); IT & Computing – Caleb Devonport (formerly Manor CE Academy); Mathematics – Brandon Scott (formerly Smeaton College, Leeds); Further Mathematics – Natasha Moore (formerly Barlby High School); Physics – Jacob Dyer (formerly Archbishop Holgate’s CE); English Language – Katherine Rawlings (formerly Millthorpe); English Literature – Rebecca Nye (formerly Manor CE); Languages – Phoebe Simpson (formerly Easingwold School); Film Studies - Victor Chan; Media Studies – Lauren Sheriston (formerly Sherburn High School); Art & Design – Olive Richardson (formerly Boston Spa School); Business/Economics – Casey Jackson (formerly Norton College); Engineering & Design – Bruce Skelton (formerly Brayton High School); Performance – Nathan Steele (formerly George Pindar School, Scarborough); Physical Education – Ellen Frost (formerly Bishop’s Stortford School, Hartfordshire); Law – Chloe Healeas (formerly John Smeaton College, Leeds); Politics – Harriet Rogerson (formerly The Snaith School, Goole; Psychology – Beth Hardisty (formerly Woldgate College, Pocklington); Religious Studies – Toby Welsby (formerly Filey School); Sociology – Kierra Bunting (formerly Easingwold School); EPQ (Dissertation) Student of the Year – Yann Baptiste Murray (formerly Millthorpe School); EPQ (Artefact) Student of the Year – Luke Mansell (formerly Canon Lee School); Best Contribution to the Community – Terence Smith (formerly Holy Family Catholic High School, Goole); Most Improved Student – Amber Graver (formerly All Saints RC); International – Diana Kauke; Head of Studies Student of the Year – Amiee Sansam (formerly Canon Lee); Governor’s Prize – Tai Tzu Chiu Samantha Eastwood (formerly Manor CE Principal’s Prize – Dan Potter (formerly Ryedale School); A-Level Student of the Year – Callum Moran (formerly The Snaith School, Goole)