Top students honoured

The top all-round students from Island secondary schools have been recognised for their achievements in the Barclays Wealth Student of the Year competition.

This year it was decided to change the structure of the competition to involve more students and recognise them in more areas of achievement.

A total of 25 youngsters were shortlisted in the categories of citizenship, the arts, academic, sports and endeavour and each of the students were interviewed by a panel of judges.

The winner of the Citizenship award was Lucy Francis from Ballakermeen High School.

Lucy is involved in a significant number of charity projects both in and out of school. She regularly helps raise funds for the charity Balla-Africa which helps AIDS orphaned children in South Africa and raises awareness of organ donation on the Island.

As well as all her voluntary work, Lucy also achieved very commendable results in her GCSEs this summer.

The winner of the Arts award was Laura Willoughby from Ballakermeen.

Laura is an all round artist and is passionate about dance, acting, fine arts, ceramic arts and music.

Playing flute and piano she is a member of the Isle of Man Symphony Orchestra and the Manx Youth Senior Orchestra.

As well as all her artistic pursuits, Laura also undertakes charity work for a number of charities including Isle of Man Anti-Cancer and St Georges Church.

The winner of the Academic award was Stephanie Young from Castle Rushen High School.

Stephanie impressed the panel not only with her 11 GCSEs passes this summer but also with her future potential.

She is passionate about physics and science and is a member of the National Association of Gifted Teenagers.

Stephanie has applied for a scholarship at Houston University and hopes to study physics with research into quantum physics at degree level.

Olivia Rawlinson from Ramsey Grammar School was awarded the prize in the sports category.

Olivia holds 57 junior and senior swimming records in the Isle of Man and has been named Isle of Man under 21 sportsperson of the year twice.

She also holds 11 gold medals at British Nationals and 23 medals from the Island Games.

Olivia trains 26 hours per week and aims to be included in the Olympic squad in 2012.

Juan Greggor from QEII was announced as the winner in the category of endeavour.

Juan has overcome a number of personal challenges in his life yet impressed the judges as a well-rounded and capable young man who is a keen horse rider and is training to take part in the 2012 Para Olympics.

The awards were presented by Greg Ellison, Managing Director of Barclays Wealth and Anne Craine Education Minister.

All of the 25 shortlisted students were awarded music vouchers and the five category winners will be travelling to Bruges to visit the famous Christmas market.

Greg said: ‘It was a real delight to be able to meet these extraordinary young people and reward them for their outstanding efforts. We have sponsored the Student of the Year awards for many years and it was great to be able to extend the categories this year so that a wider number of pupils could get involved and have their own unique achievements recognised.

'Finally I would like to say a huge well done to all the finalists, the standard of applications was outstanding and you thoroughly deserve the recognition you have received through these awards.’

Mrs Craine added: ‘I would like to extend my thanks to Barclays Wealth for all the investment and support they have given to young people and the school community on the Isle of Man.

'I was delighted to be at the awards ceremony and meet the outstanding young people who so rightly deserved to be awarded for their achievements.

'The new extended awards categories really added to the excitement of the evening and allowed for even more of our students to be recognised.’