June 29, 2026 - 264 views
Coleg Llandrillo has celebrated the achievements of its top students at its annual Achievers’ Awards Ceremony, with one aspiring paramedic taking home the college’s highest honour after overcoming immense personal challenges.
The awards, held at Venue Cymru in Llandudno, recognised the outstanding accomplishments of students across a wide range of subjects during the 2025/26 academic year.
The evening culminated with Tom Booth being named Overall Achiever of the Year after what college leaders described as a remarkable journey of personal resilience and academic success.
Tom enrolled on the Access to Higher Education (Healthcare) course a year ago with the ambition of becoming a paramedic. During his studies, he continued his education despite experiencing profound personal heartbreak while also taking on sole parental responsibilities.
Presenting the award, Coleg Llandrillo Principal Paul Flanagan praised Tom’s determination and commitment.
“Despite experiencing profound heartbreak and the pressure of managing sole parental responsibilities, this student decided to continue the year, demonstrating the fortitude and presence of mind required of a paramedic,” he said.
“They embody the spirit of Access to Higher Education and do not just meet the criteria for Overall Achiever of the Year, but define it.
“We are incredibly proud that this learner has been accepted to study Paramedical Science at Wrexham University. We wish them every success in their studies and in achieving their goal of becoming a paramedic with the NHS.”
Tom received the Overall Achiever of the Year trophy from Grŵp Llandrillo Menai Chief Executive Aled Jones-Griffith, along with a £200 voucher.
A total of 20 further education students were honoured during the ceremony after being nominated by their lecturers and selected by departmental heads for excelling in their respective subject areas.
Among the other winners was Joseph Steel, who received the A-level Achiever of the Year Award and will go on to study International Relations at university. College staff described him as a natural leader within the Rhyl Sixth Form community who consistently went above and beyond to welcome and support new students.
Level 3 Sport and Exercise Science student Cara Mercier was recognised for demonstrating exceptional determination after refusing to let injury derail their ambitions as an elite rugby player. Meanwhile, Level 3 Travel and Tourism student Rhys Roberts was praised for developing from a reserved student into a confident, capable and industry-ready individual.
The ceremony also celebrated students who had won medals in Skills Competition Wales, along with those who had represented Wales in sport. Sam Parry received recognition for football while Jac Williams was honoured for rugby.
Award winners and their families also heard an inspirational address from former Coleg Llandrillo student Alex Marshall-Wilson, who spoke about how studying at the college helped build his confidence and set him on the path towards elite wheelchair basketball.
Alex, who completed a Level 3 Sport course before studying Sport and Exercise Psychology at Loughborough University, is now pursuing his ambition of representing Great Britain at the 2028 Paralympic Games in Los Angeles. A previous recipient of the college’s Further Education Learner of the Year Award, he encouraged students to believe in themselves and embrace every opportunity.
Closing the ceremony, Aled Jones-Griffith congratulated all of the award winners and reflected on the achievements of students across Grŵp Llandrillo Menai.
“This has been a fantastic evening. A great experience for all the winners, and a proud evening for family members and friends,” he said.
“We have nearly 30,000 learners and some of the best results and success rates in Wales. Those of you who have won awards tonight can be very proud to have been nominated among so many other students. I am sure that successful futures await you all.”
Alongside Tom Booth, subject award winners included James Rollitt for Skills for Life and Work, Newt Brown for Art and Design, Evie Walliker for Business, Cerys Moriarty for Childcare, Kyle McEgan for Computing, Daniel Sparrow for Construction, Flynn Jones for Engineering, Minh Thuan Bui for English for Speakers of Other Languages, Kayleigh Blears for Hair and Beauty, Neve Williams for Health and Social Care, Poppy Doherty for Hospitality and Catering, Sion Thomas for Media and Games Development, George Atherton for Motor Vehicle, Euan Roberts for Music and Performing Arts, Katie Pugh for Public Services, Cara Mercier for Sport, Rhys Roberts for Travel and Tourism, Justine McKnight for Adult Community Learning and Seren Daisy Williams, who was named Welsh-Language Student of the Year.
Grŵp Llandrillo Menai offers the widest range of educational and training opportunities in North Wales, including vocational qualifications, apprenticeships, A-levels, higher education courses and professional qualifications.
