Painting and Decorating Modern Apprentices were recognised at the first ever annual awards ceremony held at Forth Valley College's Falkirk Campus recently.
Students, staff and invited guests – which included Sarah Higgins, FVC’s Vice Principal of Learning and Student Experience, Mhairi Hay, FVC’s Director of Curriculum for the Department of STEM and Construction and Graeme Williamson Curriculum Manager in the Department of STEM and Construction - converged on the Antonine Suite from 6pm-7.30pm on the evening of Tuesday 13 May to celebrate the achievements of First, Second, Third and Fourth Year MAs and to recognise the entire group’s progress.
Representatives from Trophy sponsors also attended and helped to present the prizes at the ceremony. These included: Beatson’s Building Supplies (First Year MAs), Johnstone’s Paints (Second Year MAs), Crown Paints (Third Year MAs) and Dulux Decorating Centres (Fourth Year MAs).
The top prize of the James Park Award for Excellence in Painting & Decorating went to Fourth Year MA Kara Ashton – who is gearing up to compete in the Painting and Decorating Associations (PDA) Grand Final at Doncaster College on Thursday 29 May.
Greg Blennie from sponsors Pristine Décor Ltd, joined former FVC Lecturer Jim Park, who the award is named after, to present Kara with her prize.
First to Third Year - Award Recipients:
1st year winner: Daniel Game
1st year runner-up: Daniel Stringer
2nd year winner: Leo Carroll
2nd year runner-up: Dimitri Smith
3rd year winner: Lewis Mcilwraith
3rd year runner-up: Oliver Easton
Fourth Year Award winners:
Dulux Most Enthusiastic Apprentice: Harvey Penman
Dulux General Excellence Trophy: Dean Finlay
Painting and Decorating Lecturer Michael Denzey, said: “This year our Painting and Decorating Department hosted its first Apprentice of the Year Awards in the new campus. I am delighted for our apprentices who are being recognised for their hard work and dedication.
“The event saw nine Award recipients from our first to fourth year, and our James Park Award for excellence in Painting and Decorating, which is our highest honour. James Park was a Painting and Decorating Lecturer in the 1990s with Falkirk College of Technology and Forth Valley College. Now in his 80s, James came along to the Awards night to present his trophy. I would like to say thank you to everyone involved in making a very successful night.”
Fellow Painting and Decorating Lecturer Stuart MacKenzie, said: “I am really proud of both Daniels in the first year, for the work they have both put in over the last year. It was very hard to choose the winner and runner-up for this award as the class as a whole is of a really high standard, but the two Daniels upped their game as they were spurred on by their peers. So a big well done to them. Next year is going to be even harder to choose!”
