Aspire Student Achievement Awards 2007/08
The Aspire Awards have been established to acknowledge high standards of work. Aspire stands for Advancing Skills for Professionals in the Rural Economy.
The Aspire Centre is the only Centre of Excellence in Teaching and Learning within an institution or university faculty that specialises in supporting the needs of the rural economy, land-based and food sectors. Harper Adams was selected in recognition of its outstanding work in helping students develop their academic and professional skills, providing work-based learning for sandwich students, meeting the continuing professional development needs of rural professionals and supporting those with a disability.
The following students were presented with the Aspire prize for the best Professional Research Project on graduation at Harper Adams University College:
Alexander Johnson
Alex Johnson, 24, from Newcastle-Under-Lyme, Staffordshire, who completed a Foundation Degree/HND in Countryside Management at the University College was presented the award by Dr. Abigail Hind, Director of Aspire.
Keith Chaney, Head of the Crops Department at Harper Adams, who announced the Aspire awards, said: "Adam produced an excellent research project in a subject area which required a notable amount of effort and commitment to source and evaluate information. The project demonstrated maturity, insight and capability - these qualities were justly rewarded with a high level grade."
"Alex has been an excellent student throughout his FdSc / HND programme and is well-thought of by his peers and by staff for his commitment, independence and constant good humour."
Alwen Eidda
Alwen Eidda, 22, Pentrefoelas, Betws-y-coed, Conwy, who completed a Foundation Degree/HND in Agri-food Marketing with Business Studies at the University College was presented the award by Dr. Abigail Hind.
Keith Chaney said: "Alwen elected to base her Professional Research Project on the feasibility of introducing new packaging for a basic commodity - Milk.
"The project investigated the consumers' attitudes towards the Milk Bag - a new initiative which has now been adopted in Waitrose and Sainsbury's stores.
"Alwen worked with local milkmen to conduct a consumer survey for the project, to find out consumers views as to why they had started to use the milk bag or why they did not wish to do so." Alwen now works for Livestock Technology Solutions Ltd.
Sandy Gray
Sandy Gray, 21, from Castley, Otley, Leeds, who completed a Foundation Degree/HND in Agriculture with Mechanisation at the University College was presented the award by Dr. Abigail Hind.
His tutor, John Reade, said: "Sandy's dissertation, 'A comparison of the season performance between two large scale combine harvester systems' was carried out to a very high standard, as befits his overall Distinction grade received for his FdSc/HND.
"The internal marker was very impressed by the level of diligence that Sandy had taken in the research, analysis and presentation of this piece of work.
"Sandy is now going to undertake a top-up program at HAUC and, if his work continues to such a high standard, he can expect to be successful in this, graduating again in 2009."
Fiona Johnson
Fiona Johnson, 47, from Bratton, Telford, Shropshire, who completed a Foundation Degree in Animal Welfare and Management at the University College was presented the award by Dr. Abigail Hind.
Keith Chaney said: "Fiona investigated the subject of the rehabilitation of British wildlife in wildlife hospital.
"She produced an excellent report which investigated the topic in a competent and mature manner and drew meaningful conclusions."
Aspire: as-pir', v., to aim at or strive for higher things
