The remarkable accomplishments of Lois Page from the Nelson and Colne College Group in Nelson were celebrated today as she was awarded the prestigious BTEC Award for Sport Learner of the Year 2022.

 

Lois Page’s amazing achievements stood out among an international field of candidates and wowed the judges, who felt her hardworking, reliable and thoughtful nature were very impressive.

 

Lois demonstrated enormous amounts of passion throughout her course and beyond. In 2021, she was recognised for creating and launching a series of 16 online ‘training’ videos for children during lockdown – totally independently – that helped viewers with drills, skills, games and craft activities to keep them active! The sporting starlet has also held volunteer roles with Burley FC, where she has coached holiday soccer schools, disability sports sessions, and even dance classes, and with the Football Association’s Wildcats initiative.

 

Lois Page, Sports Learner of the Year, said: “I am proud to have won the BTEC sports student award after a long two years of overcoming barriers and challenges that have presented themselves throughout my studies. I have always been passionate about sports and helping others and it is humbling to have been recognised for what I have achieved.”

 

Freya Thomas Monk, Senior Vice President for Vocational Qualifications and Training at Pearson, said: “After two long years spent giving or receiving lessons behind a computer screen, through face masks, or socially distanced, 2022 has been a whirlwind for everyone involved in education. Considering this, it makes the inspiring achievements documented in Lois’s submission all the more impressive. The hard work and commitment she – and all our award winners – demonstrated is extraordinary, and I am proud we are able to recognise them all through this year’s set of Awards.”

 

Twenty award winners won prizes in categories including Health and Social Care, Engineering, Music, Esports and Creative Media, each selected from thousands – and often tens of thousands – of eligible students.

 

Hundreds of thousands of learners across the globe have completed BTEC courses over the past year. The career-focused qualifications are a vital route for those pursuing careers in sectors such as IT, business, the creative industries, healthcare, engineering, construction and future industries.  Many of these industries, such as health and social care, engineering, and IT and computing, are suffering from chronic staff shortages and skills gaps, which this year’s cohort of graduates – whether they were Award winners or not – will be more than equipped to fill.