Professional Cookery student, Antony Johnson, has won the York College Student of the Year 2010 title.

Antony was nominated by his tutors for being an outstanding student who has embraced all opportunities available to him whilst at college. Using his passion for cooking, Antony has given over and above of his time, learning constantly and building his ambitions for the future.

After winning the Student of the Month title in October 2009 Antony was nominated as the college's national 'VQ Learner of the Year'. In February he visited the Olive Oil Conference in Spain and carried out a cooking demonstration for an audience of delegates from around the world. During the last six months he has been a valuable member of the Nestle Toque d'Or hospitality team, winning through to the final five (out of 240 colleges) and with his fellow team members helped to run the Nestle Toque d'Or restaurant for a day at the BBC Good Food Show at the NEC in Birmingham.

Antony says: "I was overwhelmed to hear that I had won the Student of the Year title. The whole college experience has been great, it has given me a confidence I didn't know I had. The Professional Cookery course turned my life around and cooking has become the centre of all my hopes and dreams. I hope one day to be working in a Michelin starred restaurant."

Antony was awarded a trophy to mark his achievement . His prize was to accompany Dr Alison Birkinshaw (Principal of York College) and Salvatore Petruso (Head of Division for Hospitality at York College) to afternoon tea at the Cedar Court Grand Hotel in York, followed by a tour of the new 5 star hotel.

Previous winners

June 2010: Jennifer Guy
May 2010: Melissa Crowland
April 2010: Darrell Hill
March 2010: Christopher Lambert
February 2010: Adam Archer
January 2010: Emma Glew
December 2009: Livia Tverdun
November 2009: Alana Miles
October 2009: Antony Johnson
September 2009: Catherine Hastwell