Festival of Achievement celebrates student success

Cambridge Regional College pulled out all the stops for a three-day celebration of student success, backed by major employers and crowned by a visit from new city mayor Councillor George Pippas.

The college, which was also celebrating being named the top further education college in the country for its student achievement at level 3, took over the city’s Corn Exchange for a two-day awards extravaganza, followed by a final day of celebrations for Foundation Learning students back at its campus.

Hundreds of students – praised for their contribution to the city’s success – attended the event and received certificates to mark the successful completion of their course, with over 100 receiving special awards for their outstanding achievement and endeavour.

Among the award-winners were GB Paralympian gold and bronze medal-winner Louis Rolfe and a host of other outstanding young engineers, chefs and scientists, sport and public services students, and construction, media, hair, beauty, care and technology students and apprentices.

The event was sponsored by two leading Cambridge-based companies – microchip giant ARM Holdings and international construction company WSP – with nine others supporting the celebrations by sponsoring student awards.

Keynote speaker Adrian Hames, director of WSP, said the company was proud to sponsor the festival.

“Congratulations to everyone – we are proud to sponsor this event. We are a global company with 7,000 staff in the UK and we design everything – we have worked on the A14, the guided busway, Northstowe and the Shard. We are very pleased to work with CRC – it is a key part of allowing us to work on these projects,” he said.

The mayor told students: “This is a wonderful occasion. You are a very important part of generating wealth in Cambridge. Each and every one of us important, whether we are caterers, builders, scientists or a mayor, and I look forward to your contribution to Cambridge’s ongoing success.”

Six different faculty events were held over the two days with a host of speakers, including inspirational John Willis, founder of Power2Inspaire, Colonel Mark Knight, commandant of the county’s Army Cadet Force and STEM Ambassador and games development artist Laura Dilloway from Inkle.

Award-winning CRC student Holly Hayes, who volunteers at a national level in college sport, was also a keynote speaker, along with Douglas Acheampong, CEO of Science GO, who talked about the future of robotics and artificial intelligence.

Talented student bands and solo singer-songwriter performers entertained students, families and friends, and media make-up students staged a catwalk show.

The student awards across the faculties were sponsored by Tees Law, Coulson, IET, Shearline, Moore Hair Company, Morgan Sindall, Lynch, Cromwell Tools and Paragon Engineering.

CRC principal Mark Robertson said it had been a magnificent event.

“Our students are central to the growth of Cambridge and we are delighted that this has been recognised by very many supportive employers, including our headline sponsors ARM and WSP. We are very grateful for their sponsorship and the sponsorship of our other event supporters.

“Our Festival of Achievement was a very special occasion where friends and family joined us in celebrating the success of all our students, and we paid tribute to the exceptional students who have excelled during their time at CRC, setting the standard for others and inspiring their peers. They are a real credit to our college and we were proud to recognise and congratulate them with special awards.

“We also owe a big thank you to the inspirational speakers who joined us for the awards and to our outstanding music and media make-up students who showcased their talents on the stage of the Corn Exchange.”

Pictured Some of Cambridge Regional College’s star students with mayor George Pippas and principal Mark Robertson at the Festival of Achievement in the Corn Exchange

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For more information, please contact Lynn O’Shea, Cambridge Regional College Press Officer, on 01223 418773 or email