Astor College student wins prestigious national award

^{Photo: Chelsea Cook receiving her Award from the Right Honourable Pat McFadden MP Minister of State for the Department of Business, Innovation and Skills}

^{8th October 2009}

^{Astor College for the Arts student, Chelsea Cook, has won a prestigious award for her hard work and determination to succeed at school. She received the National Aimhigher 6th Form Learner Award at a ceremony in London on 6th October.}

^{Chelsea has participated enthusiastically in Aimhigher Kent and Medway activities, including one to one mentoring with the Aimhigher Learning Mentor at the school and an Aimhigher Associate, a trained university student, and attended a summer school. She said, "These sessions have boosted my self-esteem and confidence. I particularly enjoyed the fact that I could talk directly to a current university student who came from a similar background to me."}

^{Chelsea has also won the Pam Lesley Memorial Cup for Life Skills in Year 12 and during Year 13 was made senior prefect and became Secretary to the Sixth Form Committee.}

^{Lisa Egan, the Aimhigher Learning Mentor at the school said, "I have noticed a huge change in Chelsea’s confidence, ability to stick up for herself, and how she deals with difficult situations, not only in the College but in her everyday experience. I know that she leaves Astor College a stronger and more resilient individual."}

^{Mrs Carol Donovan, Head of College at Astor said, "Chelsea is an outstanding student who has always got time for other people. She is a kind, modest, hardworking and unselfish. Over the years that she has been part of the Astor Family; she has overcome many difficulties, through sheer tenacity and quiet determination. Chelsea is someone who will always put others first."}

^{Notes to Editors}

^{Aimhigher is a national, government funded project to encourage and assist more people to enter higher education at college or university. Aimhigher Kent and Medway work on a regional level as a partnership with local universities, further education colleges and schools to help achieve this.}

^{Aimhigher Kent and Medway work with local students in a variety of ways; by arranging visits to local universities and colleges, through using current university students to act as mentors and ambassadors, by going into schools to speak with students and by working with parents to ensure they are actively involved in the process of higher education. Aimhigher Kent and Medway also work with local practitioners and employers to ensure that all relevant parties have an input into the promotion and development of higher education locally.}

^{Aimhigher Kent and Medway are based at Canterbury Christ Church University. Our partners include Canterbury Christ Church University; the University of Greenwich; the University for the Creative Arts; the University of Kent; the Open University; Canterbury College; Hadlow College; Mid Kent College; North West Kent College; South Kent College; Thanet College and West Kent College.}

^{This press release is available on www.aimhigherkentandmedway.org.}

^{Useful Contacts}

^{Linda Bishopp}

^{Communications Manager}

^{Aimhigher Kent and Medway Partnership}

^{Telephone: 01227 782566 Mobile: 07843 343374}

^{E-mail: linda.bishopp@canterbury.ac.uk}

^{Further Information}

^{National Aimhigher Website: www.aimhigher.ac.uk}

^{Aimhigher Kent and Medway Website: www.aimhigherkentandmedway.org}