Ian wins York College Student of the Year title

Higher Education student Ian Park has won the
York College ‘Student of the Year 2011’ title. College tutors have described Ian as ‘an inspirational student’.

Whilst in his final year of a Foundation Degree in Information Business Technology, Ian (aged 39) endured serious illness and through adversity managed his own learning to achieve success. This month Ian was able to celebrate his success at the York College graduation ceremony.

Said Val Roddis, Ian’s IT tutor: “At the start of the second year of his course Ian suffered ill health and was in hospital for a considerable time. During this period he kept in contact with the College and his course peers and tried hard to participate in group work projects. When he returned to College he had serious incapacities which meant that he had to apply for extenuating circumstances on his assignments. Amazingly he surpassed all expectations and managed to submit his work for every assignment, resulting in him passing every module. He made a positive and active contribution in class and produced excellent work. Ian is hugely admired by his peers and tutors.”

Ian was delighted to hear that he had been chosen as York College Student of the Year saying: "I am amazed and happy to be given this honour. The timing of this was perfect as I had just found out that I had been offered an IT job with MS2M who are specialists in developing Compliance and Business Performance Solutions for the Financial Services Industry. My wife and family have been so supportive and having my college work to focus on really helped me to get through a very difficult year. I am so pleased to have passed my Foundation Degree and now I look forward to employment."

Ian intends to return to study with York College in September to study the e-Top up degree in multi-media (a Sheffield Hallam University course, offered by York College as a study centre for the distance learning programme).