Newcastle College Celebrates Inspirational Students with Monthly Student Awards
06 March 2026
Each month Newcastle and Stafford Colleges Group hold a ‘Student of the Month’ awards presentation that highlights and recognises the individual effort, progress and dedication of students who go above and beyond throughout the year.
This month, we’re joined by our incredible February winners and they were selected for a variety of reasons, from inspirational charity work, exceptional achievements in their studies to admirational resilience in the face of any challenge.
We want to say a huge thank you to Adam Jogee, MP for Newcastle-under-Lyme, for joining us and presenting this months awards.
Lolade Badmus – Award for the Faculty of Academic & Creative Studies
An exceptional BTEC Applied Science student, Lola consistently demonstrates dedication, professionalism and a genuine enthusiasm for learning. She approaches both academic and practical work with maturity and a highly conscientious attitude, showing strong problem-solving skills and excellent attention to detail.
In group activities, Lola naturally steps into a leadership role, co-ordinating tasks, supporting her peers and helping her team achieve shared goals. Her leadership also extends beyond college, where she volunteers as a youth leader at her local church, demonstrating responsibility and outstanding interpersonal skills. Lola has further strengthened her scientific knowledge through work experience in a community pharmacy and will soon take part in an exciting educational trip to Australia.
Holly Smith - Award for the Faculty of Vocational Studies
A dedicated and highly motivated learner, Holly consistently demonstrates maturity, professionalism and an outstanding commitment to her studies. Her excellent predicted grades reflect the hard work, perseverance and high standards she sets for herself. She approaches every task thoughtfully, often submitting drafts for feedback and showing a genuine drive to improve.
Respected by both staff and peers, Holly is known for her supportive nature and leadership within the classroom. Classmates frequently turn to her for guidance, while her willingness to help others creates a positive and encouraging learning environment. Her confidence and curiosity were recently showcased when she delivered a Sociology lecture to her class. Holly has also secured five university offers to study Counselling and Psychology, which is an incredible achievement.
Nikola Szokalska - Award for the Faculty of Vocational Studies
Now in the final year of the Level 3 Health and Social Care course, Nikola has consistently demonstrated exceptional commitment, professionalism and a genuine passion for the sector. Academically, Nikola maintains an excellent standard of work, producing well-researched and reflective assignments while confidently applying theory to real-world practice.
In lessons, Nikola actively contributes thoughtful insights and approaches every challenge with determination and a positive mindset. During placements and practical activities, Nikola’s strong communication skills, empathy and professionalism have earned praise from staff, supervisors and peers alike. Nikola also represented the College at the WorldSkills Health and Social Care competition, demonstrating independence, confidence and professionalism throughout the experience. With excellent attendance and strong predicted grades, Nikola is a truly deserving recipient of this award.
Tianna Dodge - Award for the Faculty of Vocational Studies
A talented Level 2 Media Make Up and Hair student, Tianna consistently demonstrates exceptional commitment, creativity and professionalism. She approaches every lesson with enthusiasm, working proactively while supporting and encouraging her peers to create a positive and collaborative learning environment.
Tianna regularly volunteers for performance make-up opportunities, stepping forward for every show and consistently receiving praise for both her professional conduct and impressive technical skills. Her passion was also evident at the AHT Regional Competition in Blackpool, where she competed in the Face Painting category. After dedicating significant time to researching, practising and refining her design, Tianna achieved an incredible Gold medal for her Avatar-inspired look, an outstanding achievement among 36 entrants. Now preparing for the finals and planning to enter the UK WorldSkills competitions, Tianna’s future in the industry is one to watch.
Josh Norton - Award for the Faculty of Professional Studies
A standout student on the T Level Digital course, Josh consistently demonstrates exceptional commitment, technical talent and a highly professional attitude. His excellent attendance and strong work ethic reflect his dedication to learning and he always arrives prepared, engaged and ready to contribute to both independent and collaborative projects.
Josh recently achieved an outstanding success at the WorldSkills practice competition held at the Institute of Technology, winning first place in the Web Development category after achieving the highest overall score. Judges praised the quality and professionalism of his work. He approaches every project with enthusiasm and determination, actively seeking feedback and supporting his peers along the way. Josh’s passion for digital technology and commitment to excellence make him a truly deserving recipient of this award.
Rohith Thomas - Award for the Faculty of Professional Studies
A second-year student on the Level 3 BTEC National Diploma in Business, Rohith has demonstrated exceptional dedication and ambition throughout his studies. His achievements have recently been recognised with a highly competitive degree apprenticeship with J.P. Morgan in Investment Banking, which he will begin this August through the University of Exeter, with the incredible opportunity to relocate to New York!
Rohith secured this opportunity following a rigorous application process, supported by extensive independent research into banking and finance that went far beyond the expectations of his course. Academically, he achieved Distinction grades across all Year 1 coursework units and is now predicted an outstanding overall grade of DDD. Alongside his studies, Rohith balances part-time work, music and competitive athletics, demonstrating remarkable dedication and drive. His tutors and lecturers all refer to him as a truly outstanding student.
Jacob Bould - Award for Skills & Technology
A student on the BTEC Level 2 Engineering course, Jacob has shown exceptional commitment, determination and a truly positive attitude towards his studies. His 100% attendance and strong achievements reflect the dedication he brings to every lesson, always arriving prepared and ready to learn. Jacob also demonstrated impressive resilience by successfully passing his GCSE English resit in November, a fantastic achievement that highlights his perseverance and motivation to succeed.
Beyond the classroom, Jacob is an active member of his community. He volunteers at his local football club, independently arranged his work experience placement at Barlow Motors and has supported fundraising efforts for the UHNM cancer charity. Jacob’s work ethic, maturity and enthusiasm make him a very deserving recipient of this award, with an exciting future in engineering ahead.
Mikhailio Tsymbal - Award for Skills & Technology
A student on the BTEC Level 2 Engineering course, Mikhailio has shown exceptional dedication, determination and an outstanding work ethic throughout his studies. His tutor notes that he has already completed more than double the required directed study hours, a clear reflection of his motivation and commitment to success.
Mikhailio also achieved a fantastic milestone by passing his GCSE English resit in November. As English is his second language, this is a particularly impressive accomplishment. He further demonstrated his academic ability by achieving the highest mark in the class in a recent Engineering exam. Beyond the classroom, Mikhailio has helped fundraise with the UHNM cancer charity and supports the Apedale Heritage Centre, travelling each week from Market Drayton to give his time. Mikhailio has plans to pursue an Engineering apprenticeship next year and we’re all looking forward to see what he achieves next.
Caitlin Crombie - Apprentice of the Month
Having just completed her Level 3 Multi-Channel Marketer apprenticeship, Caitlin has demonstrated exceptional creativity, energy and commitment throughout her learning journey. With the support of her team at Haus Marketing, she has rapidly developed her knowledge, skills and professional confidence across both B2B and consumer-focused marketing.
Caitlin has shown a real flair for developing engaging social media campaigns, creating vibrant content and identifying emerging trends. One standout achievement includes leading a campaign to collaborate with high-profile cooking influencers, a new initiative that showcased her creativity, resilience and ability to build strong professional relationships. Her work has also gained recognition through the development of joint branded promotional materials with Harrods, praised by their team and featured in-store.
Chris Walsh – Apprentice of the Month
Throughout his apprenticeship, Chris has demonstrated outstanding progress, professionalism and dedication, developing into a confident and capable engineer. He has made an excellent impression both in college and with his employer, consistently applying himself and striving to refine his skills and improve the quality of his work.
Chris’s portfolio work and engagement during reviews have shown significant growth, reflecting his increasing knowledge, technical ability and professional behaviours. His commitment to excellence and steady development have not gone unnoticed by both his assessor and employer. Beyond his technical skills, Chris is highly respected by his peers for his supportive and collaborative approach. In the workshop, he regularly goes above and beyond to help others, offering guidance and encouragement while creating a positive learning environment.
Phoebe Kirk - Award for the Faculty of the Arts
A Level 3 Art and Design student, Phoebe has shown exceptional academic achievement, commitment and personal growth throughout the course. Her recent Personal Progression unit submission earned distinctions across all five assessment criteria, reflecting her meticulous planning, extensive research and dedication to refining her work.
Phoebe has also pursued opportunities beyond the classroom, including submitting work for the Three Counties Open Exhibition and applying independently for the Arts Keele internship. Her application was praised as “remarkable” by the Development Coordinator, highlighting her ambition and intelligence. Even though she has to manage significant health challenges, Phoebe continues to approach her studies with positivity and resilience, inspiring everyone around her. Her growing confidence, professionalism and creativity make her a highly respected and valued member of the course.
Sara Yousufzai – Award for English & Maths
Since joining in September, Sara has achieved an extraordinary transformation in her academic performance. From a Grade 1 in Maths, she worked tirelessly to consistently reach Grade 5 standard by the November exam series, ultimately securing a strong Grade 4, far exceeding expectations.
Her success in English has been equally impressive, achieving a Grade 6 in GCSE English Language through dedication, resilience and consistent effort. Tutors praise her monumental progress, noting her commitment to completing past papers and investing time outside the classroom to push herself further. Alongside her studies, Sara is completing a Level 2 BTEC First Certificate in Information and Creative Technology, plans to progress to A Levels next year, and has already launched a small business selling clothing and jewellery from her home country of Afghanistan.
Congratulations to all our students on their outstanding achievements and the admirable commitment shown to their studies.
