View all photos from the Celebration of Achievement 2025 at our Flickr gallery
On Thursday, 20th November, Hartlepool College proudly hosted its 32nd Annual Celebration of Achievement awards ceremony, recognising the outstanding accomplishments of students across all curriculum areas.
The event was themed "Burning Brightly", inspired by George Bernard Shaw's well-known reflection on the role of the custodian:
Life is no "brief candle" for me. It is a sort of splendid torch which I have got hold of for the moment, and I want to make it burn as brightly as possible before handing it on to future generations.
The event brought together students, staff, families, and employer partners to celebrate excellence across the 2024/25 academic year.
Vice Principal of External Relations, Gary Riches, serving as Master of Ceremonies, welcomed attendees and noted the truly outstanding stories of the learners being recognised throughout the evening. Vice Principal of Curriculum and Standards, Mick Casey, then joined Gary to present the nominee citations. We were also privileged to be joined by representatives from our Celebration of Achievement 2025 sponsors to present each award, including our headline sponsor, the PFC Trust.
The evening opened with the presentation of the inaugural Harrison Harvey Award, sponsored by Just Williams. Established in memory of Harrison Harvey, an exceptional former Hartlepool College student who was talented, kind, and deeply committed to his craft, the award honours students who embody his qualities, including generosity, passion, and dedication to their studies. Harrison's impact on the College community continues through this award, which celebrates students who, like him, inspire everyone around them. The first recipient of this special award was Thomas Chapman.
The evening culminated in the presentation of the Student of the Year Award, which was sponsored by X Energy. This award went to Ligia Andrea Salinas Rivera, who also received the Michael Bretherick Engineering Award sponsored by Willis Aviation. Ligia's name was added to our prestigious Roll of Honour wall display in the College atrium.
Ligia's journey is one of exceptional resilience and determination. Originally from El Salvador, she relocated to London before settling in Hartlepool, facing significant challenges in transitioning to a new country and community. Despite not initially meeting entry requirements for her preferred course, Ligia embraced the Level 2 Engineering pathway with unwavering commitment.
Her academic performance has been outstanding, achieving grade 4 in both GCSE English and Maths, alongside a Distinction/Merit overall grade in her Level 2 qualification - the highest grade achieved on the programme in over five years. Ligia maintained her focus and high standards through difficult times, demonstrating maturity, leadership, and a positive attitude that earned respect across the School. We are extremely proud of Ligia and every single one of our nominees and winners - see the full list below.
The Full List of Award Winners 2025
| Award | Winner | Sponsor |
|---|---|---|
| Harrison Harvey Award | Thomas Chapman | Just Williams |
| Construction and Building Services Student of the Year | Mackenzie Storey | Seymour Civil Engineering |
| Service Industries Student of the Year | Jacob Wells | Sheesh Mahal |
| Education Student of the Year | Tess Craven | Teesside University |
| Foundation Studies Student of the Year | Sherina Lu | The PFC Trust in memory of Gus Robinson |
| Inclusive Learner of the Year | Billie Jo Louca | Hartlepool Borough Council |
| English & Maths Student of the Year | Ty Lambton | Libellum |
| Sporting Achievement Award | Peter Gale & Jack Wallace | Hartlepool Sport |
| Fabrication, Welding, Process & Transport Student of the Year | Oliver Cairney | Wilton Engineering |
| Apprentice of the Year | Madison Williams | Wilton Engineering |
| The Jaap Kroese Scholarship | Luke Hill | |
| The Michael Bretherick Engineering Award | Ligia Salinas Rivera | Willis Aviation |
| The Russell Hart Award for Health & Social Care | Libby Bryan | University Hospitals Tees |
| Student Representative of the Year | Yat Tin Hong | Regen Group |
| Staff Recognition Award | Linda Smith, Mark Barker, Jill Young, Carol Davies, and Christopher Leo | |
| Student of the Year 2025 | Ligia Salinas Rivera | X Energy |
Special Thanks to Our Sponsors
The College extends its gratitude to all sponsors who made this celebration possible. Special recognition goes to The PFC Trust, our headline event sponsor, whose continued support enables the College to celebrate student achievements in a way that truly befits their accomplishments.
Award sponsors include Seymour Civil Engineering, X Energy, Wilton Engineering, Willis Aviation, Hartlepool Borough Council, Regen Group, Teesside University, University Hospitals Tees, Sheesh Mahal, Libellum, Hartlepool Sport, and Just Williams. After-ceremony refreshments were generously sponsored by MKM Building Supplies and facilitated by our outstanding Hospitality and Catering students and staff team.
Mark Barker, Carol Davies, and Christopher Leo, presented by Chair of Governors, Stuart Irvine (left)
Recognising Long Service
The evening also honoured five members of staff who left the College in summer 2024, recognising their contributions as key links in the chain stretching back to 1849. Recipients of the award included Linda Smith (24 years), Mark Barker (20 years), Jill Young (16 years), Carol Davies (13 years), and Christopher Leo (12 years).
The ceremony concluded with closing remarks from Gary Riches and Chair of Governors Stuart Irvine, celebrating another outstanding year for Hartlepool College.
Congratulations to all nominees and winners on their exceptional achievements. Here's to continuing our mission of transforming lives for many years to come.
#BurningBrightly #HCFECOA2025 #TransformingLives
