STUDENTS have been celebrating the start of their journey to university.

Coleg Llandrillo students, plus their families and friends, recently attended an awards ceremony at the college’s Rhyl campus to celebrate the students receiving their ‘passports to university’.

Nearly 40 students were presented with their qualifications to study at university, after successfully completing their Access to Higher Education (HE) programmes at the college’s campus.

The ceremony was hosted by Clare Martin, Access to HE co-ordinator, and the special guest was Martin Evans, programme area manager for A-levels at both the Rhyl Sixth and the college’s Rhos-on-Sea campus.

The 2018/2019 academic year at the college has been a particularly successful one, with the majority of successful students having now received course offers from their first choice university.

The Access to Higher Education programme has been provided by Coleg Llandrillo for nearly 30 years.

It is a flexible programme which is designed for adults who have few, if any, school qualifications, but who wish to prepare for university-level study.

Two out of the three main awards were presented to Niamh Kemp from Rhyl (best extended essay) and Joann Evans from Rhyl (most improved student), before the coveted title of student of the year was bestowed upon Kirsty Jones, from Greenfield.

A former project worker for young homeless people, Kirsty had always wanted to pursue a career in adult nursing, so she signed up to the Access to HE course.

Mum-of-two Kirsty said at the ceremony: “I am absolutely thrilled to receive this award.

"The support and encouragement I have received from all my tutors has been outstanding.

“After just one year of study, I am now going to study for a degree in adult nursing at Bangor University.

"I am convinced that this course is the best available for those who have had a gap in their education and who want to go on to study at university.”

Clare Martin said: “The Access to Higher Education programme is a dynamic route to university for mature students who are looking for a change in direction in their career, or who may not have the traditional entry qualifications to study for a degree. “Doing an Access to HE course is a challenging, yet life-changing experience.

"I am so proud of all our students at Rhyl who have come back into education as adults and are now heading to university to pursue new career paths.”

For more information on the Access to Higher Education courses, or any other courses at Coleg Llandrillo’s Rhyl campus, contact the college on 01745 354797.

Alternatively, visit www.gllm.ac.uk, or e-mail rhyladmissions@gllm.ac.uk