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The end of 2025 was a time of celebration for our Access to Higher Education students, who completed their course last academic year and was nominated for the Brian May Award, an award to celebrate exceptional individuals who have demonstrated remarkable perseverance and commitment in their pursuit of knowledge and personal growth.

Our Access to HE students has come to the Heart of Worcestershire College to change their lives through learning- coming from decades of work experience, parenthood, struggles and more, to secure new career opportunities in their chosen fields.

Each student embodies the resilience and determination that the Brian May Award wants to recognise, where four of our students were nominated for the award.

Nicholas Bowden joined HoW College after numerous decades out of education to study Social Sciences and Humanities. He has been excellent with his attendance and punctuality, dedicated to his studies alongside making meaningful contributions to each session, often going above and beyond of what has been asked of him and being an enthusiastic student. For this Nick was nominated for the Outstanding Academic Achievement Award.

Vickie Shaw studied our Social Sciences course and has overcome many struggles in her personal life which has inspired her to use her own experiences to work in family liaison within the police service in the future]. She balanced college, family-life, along with self-esteem issues but stuck through all to showcase a strong work ethic, consistent high-quality work, meeting deadlines, high attendance and strongly contributing to lessons. Her dedication at college was recognised in her nomination for the Outstanding Commitment to Study Award.

Cameron Thomas was nominated for the Outstanding Academic Achievement Award. He joined HoW College to study Social Sciences where he stood bright with his consistent distinction level work, and demonstrating well-developed critical thinking, analytical skills, and a distinct and clear academic voice. Beyond the classroom, Cameron’s dedication shone through where he has explored extensively in independent reading and research into psychology, criminology and law.

Lyndsey Hiatt was nominated for the Outstanding Commitment to Study Award. When she was younger, she struggled to gain an education due to grooming, and in her adult life has wanted to become a midwife and help women in her chosen career. She showed dedication and commitment to becoming a midwife. She completed her GCSE English and Maths qualifications along with a Level 2 Foundation Access Course before embarking on the Level 3 Access to Higher Education, Health Professionals course. Throughout, she has maintained good attendance and worked hard, even during her pregnancy and birth, she attended lessons online and studied.

Lyndsey attended with her mother to accept her award whilst Nichola Warner, accepted awards on behalf of Nick, Cameron, and Vickie. During the course of the evening, Lyndsey was awarded Student of the Year for her Commitment to Study, where she will now be entered into the Keith Fletcher Memorial Prize, to honour the outstanding achievements of Access to HE students. We look forward to hearing from Lyndsey after the awards.

Nick Bowden shared his thoughts on his time with HoW College studying with Access to HE.

“Thank you to all the staff at the Heart of Worcestershire College. I never thought that five years ago, when I was made redundant from a job that I had worked at for 35 years, that I would be following the learning curve that I am currently on. Leaving school in 1982 and going back into the educational environment after so long was daunting at first but once I started, I felt very comfortable and enjoyed my time there. To win the Student of the Year Award was a surprise and an honour. To be nominated for the Brain May Award is even more of an hour. Thank you very much or your belief and encouragement.”