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    Slideshow: Meet the 2014 graduation prize-winners

    Posted 20 October 2014

    More than 50 awards and prizes were presented to Harper Adams students as they graduated from their courses in September 2014. 

    The prizes, all donated by private companies, individual donors or charities, recognise excellence across the full range of Harper Adams University courses, honouring both academic achievement and those who have contributed the most to the overall student experience. 

    See the slideshow below for details of the various prizes and the students who won them. 

    Harper Adams would like to thank all of the sponsors not only for providing the prizes but also for taking the time to meet the winners and present them in person on graduation day. 

    These pictures are also all available on the Harper Adams University facebook page. 

     

    Alex Skittery, 23, MEng Agricultural Engineering, from Little Marcle, Ledbury, Herefordshire, receives the Alamo Manufacturing Service Award from Senior Lecturer Dr Richard Green. Lecturer Greg Rowsell said: “Alex graduated with distinction in his Masters degree and as the highest performing student of an exceptional cohort of Master of Engineering students. His final year individual Masters research project was: ‘An investigation into the effect steering has on vehicle power consumption’, which was successfully completed to a very high standard. Arthur Callaghan, agriculture and animal science student, receives the Alltech Award from Alltech Technical Sales Manager, Andrew Linscott Charlotte Wright receives the Axworthy Cup and Robin Faccenda Prize from Senior Lecturer Dr Graham Scott, for achieving the top marks in practical and written work during placement year in the poultry industry Pengwei Shan receives a BAC Food Quality with Retail Management Student of the Year Award from International Student Support Manager Jo Rawlinson Pengyu Miao receives the BAC international business Student of the Year Award from International Student Support Manager Jo Rawlinson Andrew Plumb, FdSc Business Management with Marketing with Merit, receives the Bomford Prize from senior lecturer Dr Richard Green Sophie-Jade Bacon, BSc (Hons) Rural Enterprise and Land Management (REALM), receives the Buccleugh Estates Prize from Principal Lecturer Carrie de Silva, on graduation day at Harper Adams University. The prize is awarded annually to the REALM placement student of the year. Henry Waight, BSc (Hons) Agriculture, receives the British Society for Soil Science prize from Ian Brown on graduation day at Harper Adams University, Shropshire. This award is made annually to the student achieving the highest mark on a final year dissertation on a soils related topic. Georgina Parry, BSc (Hons) Rural Enterprise and Land Management, receives the Central Association of Agricultural Valuers prize from external professional examiner Charles Meynell. This undergraduate award was presented at Harper Adams University’s graduation prize-giving after Georgina achieved the top mark in the final year module ‘Revenue Law and Statutory Valuation’. Georgina, 22, from Knighton, Powys, completed her placement year with Savills in Nottingham. She also received the MFG Solicitors Trophy, presented by Michael Payne, from MFG Telford, for obtaining the highest mark in Business, Residential, Tenancies and Land Law module – an apt award because Georgina is now working towards a Graduate Diploma in Law at Cardiff University Law School, with a view to becoming a solicitor. Sarah Jones, Postgraduate Diploma Rural Estate and Land Management, receives the Central Association of Agricultural Valuers Postgraduate prize from external professional examiner Charles Meynell. Sarah, 22, from Penrith, secured the award by achieving the top mark in the Rural Asset Valuation module. Hannah Leigh, BSc (hons) agri-food marketing with business studies, receives the Chartered Institute of Marketing Food and Drink Group Prize from Principal Lecturer Patricia Parrott Michael Murphy, BSc(Hons) Agricultural Engineering with Marketing and Management, recieves the Claas (UK) Trophy from Jane Broomhall, CLAAS Personnel Manager. This award is made annually at graduation to best BSc/BSc (Hons) Agricultural Engineering with Marketing and Management Student at Harper Adams University, Shropshire. James John Phillips, FdSc Agricultural Engineering, receives the Douglas Bomford Trust Prize from Professor Paul Miller, secretary of the Douglas Bomford Trust. This award is given annually at the Harper Adams University graduation to the best FdSc Agricultural Engineering student. Jono Thomson BSC (Hons) Agriculture receives the Dr Norman Gill Crop Science Award from Principal Lecturer Dr John Reade. This award is made annually at Harper Adams University graduation for outstanding performance in the areas of plant and crop science. His tutors wrote: “Jono Thompson has gained a First Class degree in Agriculture, being consistently excellent across all his modules. Jono is originally from Zimbabwe and came to the UK with an enthusiastic approach to study and life at Harper Adams. He chose to look at agriculture as a broad industry, adding to his general agriculture by doing his placement at Co-op farms, where he was involved with fresh produce. In his final year project Jono developed a screening protocol for veg breeding - one that we are using in further research.” Jono, 27, is now working as a farm manager in South Shropshire. He also received the Society of Biology Top Student Award for achieving the highest percentage mark in a bioscience based degree. Jono receives free membership of the Society of Biology in recognition of his outstanding performance in bioscience aspects of his degree. The FdSc Countryside Management Excellent Achievement award is presented to recent Harper Adams University graduate Caroline Embleton, 36, from Telford, by programme manager Simon Irvin. Mr Irvin said: “Caroline is a worthy winner for the Excellent Achievement Award. Throughout her studies Caroline has applied herself with a dedication and commitment second to none, to become the top foundation degree student!” Beth Duchesne, BSc (Hons) Agriculture with Farm Business Management, receives the Farmers' Club Pinnacle Award from Senior Lecturer Tony Asson, at the Harper Adams University graduation prize-giving. This award is given for excellence in business management. Students across the country submit work to the Farmers’ Club on the recommendation of their tutors. The work is judged and short listed. Mr Asson said: “Beth’s work was on a real-life upland organic farm in the Shropshire Hills, looking at an alternative income stream for the farmer. Time and other client-based constraints meant the diversification idea had to be in a growth market sector, low capital cost, financially sound and a low time input. The idea was to grow exotic mushrooms to sell to the catering and retail markets. Her work was judged at the finals in London and was awarded a Bronze award and a substantial cash prize. Beth graduates with a 2.1” Beth, 22, comes from from Bury St. Edmunds, Suffolk The Fisher German Prize was presented to, clockwise from bottom left, Laura Carr, Jack Bull, Sarah Goddard, Simon Manthorpe, Josephine Nott and William Parke, by Charles Meynell. This award is presented annually at the Harper Adams University graduation ceremony. Mark Simcock, Associate Head of Department for Land Management at Harper Adams, said: “It is judged and awarded by Fisher German, chartered surveyors, for the best final year project in the module ‘Rural Asset Strategy and Management’, which is studied by all final year Rural Enterprise and Land Management students. The project is a piece of group work which requires the students to advise a real life estate owner on the strategic development of their estate. Laura Carr, BSc (Hons) Rural Enterprise and Land Management, receives the Gethin Webb Award from Senior Lecturer Simon Keeble, at the Harper Adams University graduation prize-giving. This award is given to the final year 'REALM' student who has made the learning experience more enjoyable for other students throughout their time at Harper Adams. The Frontier Agriculture Trophy is presented to James Willcox, BSc (Hons) Agri-business, by Robert Preston, Key Account Manager at Frontier Agriculture. This award is made annually at the Harper Adams University graduation prize-giving to the best student on the BSc Agri-Business degree. James, 22, from Petersfield, Hampshire, achieved a 1st class honours degree. He carried out his year-long work placement with Andersons, an agricultural consultancy business, and wrote a dissertation titled “Disparity and determinants of cereal farm profitability within the UK”. Devon’s Ross Edwards, BSc (Hons) Agriculture, was a double winner at the Harper Adams University graduation prize-giving. Baroness Byford presented Ross, 22, from Tavistock, with the Royal Agricultural Society of England prize, awarded to the student who performed best in both academic and practical work. He also received the Irish Bowl from 2013 winner James Yeomans. The Irish Bowl is awarded to a student who has demonstrated outstanding qualities in being involved in the university community and is who highly employable. Anna Holdcroft, 22, from Stafford, receives the ISA Award from Peter Cumbers, ISA Poultry Services, for submitting the best report in the final year assignment “Intensive Husbandry Systems – Poultry”, in which she investigated important current issues affecting the UK and Global poultry industry. Anthony Robb, 23, from Lifford, County Donegal, receives the JCB Managing the Environment Prize, from Simon Wood, Technical Excellence Leader at JCB. Anthony recently graduated with a BSc (Hons) Countryside and Environmental Management degree from Harper Adams University. He received the prize for being the final year honours degree student who displayed the best all round performance in terms of academic excellence and contribution to the countryside and the environment. William Copland, BEng (Hons) Off Road Vehicle Design, receives the JCB Trophy from Simon Wood, Technical Excellence Leader at JCB, at the Harper Adams University graduation prize-giving. Programme manager Greg Rowsell said: “William graduates with a first-class honours degree, and also as the highest performing student on the BEng Off Road Vehicle Design course Andrew Dawson, BSc (Hons) Agrcultural Engineering, receives the John Deere Trophy from Gordon Day, who has just retired from his position as John Deere Marketing Manager (at the end of September 2014). The prize was presented at the Harper Adams University graduation prizegiving in September and honours Andrew as the best student on a BSc Agricultural Engineering Degree Programme. He graduated with first class honours and joins CNH as a graduate engineer. Gemma Hunt, BSc (Hons) Veterinary Nursing and Practice Management, receives the KRUUSE Veterinary Nurse of the Year Trophy from Christine Jennings, Midlands Territory. The prize is awarded for the best veterinary nursing honours research project. The project, “An investigation into the effects of a heat and moisture exchanger on hypothermia in dogs with a body mass of above ten kilograms and below ten kilograms undergoing an MRI scan”, has since won Best Student Undergraduate Research Project at the British Veterinary Nursing Association (BVNA) Annual Congress. Huw Price, BSc (Hons) Business Management with Marketing, receives the Lloyds Bank (Central Office) Prize from David Hykin, Relationship Director at Lloyds TSB. This award is made annually at the Harper Adams University graduation prize-giving to the student who has attained the highest overall mark on the BSc (Hons) Business Management Course. Huw, 24, from Trallong, Powys, achieved a first-class honours degree Yinong Zhang, BSc (hons) International Business Management, receives the Lloyds Bank (Local Branch) Prize from Deborah Sutherland Lingchen Geng, BSc (Hons) Food Quality with Retail Management, receives the Lloyds Bank (Local Branch) Prize from Deborah Sutherland Caroline Bromley, BSc (Hons) Veterinary Nursing (with advanced standing), receives the Merial Award, for the best Diploma Advanced Veterinary Nursing student, from lecturer Nina Tudor. Cormac Flaherty. BEng (Hons) Agricultural Engineering, receives the New Holland Trophy from James Ashworth, General Sales Manager at New Holland Agriculture. Catherine Bletcher, BSc (Hons) Agri-food Marketing with Business Studies, receives the Noble Food Award (previously the Deans Foods Award), from Anthony Minto, Managing Director of Noble Foods. The award is presented annually at the Harper Adams University graduation prize-giving for the best final year average mark achieved by a BSc Agri-food student. Holly Jones, BSc (Hons) Food and Consumer Studies, receives the Noble Foods - Food Technology and Science Award, from Noble Foods Ltd Managing Director Anthony Minto. The award is presented annually at the Harper Adams University graduation prize-giving for the best food technology dissertation Lorna Cooper BSc (hons) Animal Behaviour and Welfare, received the PIC UK Award from Senior Lecturer Alan Stewart for the best final year project related to pig production David Boyd, BSc (Hons) Agriculture, is awarded the Poultry Industry Education Trust (PIET) Award by trust secretary Basil Bayne, for outstanding performance in poultry-related studies. Helen Proud, 23, from Wylam, Northumberland, MSc Rural Estate and Land Management, received the Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors Prize, awarded to the subject’s top postgraduate student, and the REALM Team Dissertation Prize. The Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors prize is presented by Robert Timmins, RICS matrics Marches Chairman. Kirsty Errington, 22, from Cockermouth, Cumbria, was a double winner at the Harper Adams University graduation prize-giving. Kirsty received the Worshipful Company of Farmers Prize from Baroness Byford, as well as a Royal Association of British Dairy Farmers/De Lacy Executive Dairy Student Award. The Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors prize is presented to Lewis Smith BSc (Hons) Rural Enterprise and Land Management, by Robert Timmins, RICS Matrics Marches Chairman. Lewis, 22, from Lutterworth, Leicestershire, was the top undergraduate student graduating from the BSc Honours Degree in Rural Enterprises and Land Management The Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors prize is presented to Vicky Stark, BSc (Hons) Rural Property Management, by Robert Timmins, RICS Matrics Marches Chairman. Vicky, 22, from Newton Abbot, Devon, was the top final year student on her course The RSPCA Farm Animal Welfare Award is presented to Alexandra Massey, 24, from Erril, Co Laois, Ireland; Lauren Fensome, 24, from Honiton, Devon and Lorna Cooper, 22, from Aylesbury, Buckinghamshire, all BSc (Hons) Animal Behaviour and Welfare, by Lee Stewart, RSPCA Stapley Grange Wildlife Centre Manager. Senior lecturer Moira Harris said: “The RSPCA Farm Animal Welfare Award is given for the students presenting the best project in the module Advances in Farm Animal Health and Welfare. The winning group, Alex Massey, Lauren and Lorna, promoted the need that ducks have for full-body access to water when being reared for meat.” Drew Patrick, 22, BSc (Hons) Agriculture, accepts the Rumenco Beef and Sheep Award from David Thornton, Rumenco Technical Manager, in recognition of the quality of his assignment ‘Beef & Sheep Enterprise Appraisal of Holdgate Hall at Much Wenlock’. Drew comes from a family farm in Haverfordwest, Pembrokeshire. Livestock at the home farm includes a herd of pedigree Charolais Cattle (Easthook) and Drew is secretary of the Welsh Charolais Cattle Breeders Club. Following completion of his studies Drew commenced employment in August with ABP as a graduate trainee manager based at Ellesmere. Senior Lecturer Dr Richard Green presents the Spearhead Prize to winning group: James Wilcox BSc (Hons) Agriculture, Andrew Peebles BSc (Hons) Agri-business, Emma-Louise Davies BSc (Hons) Business Management with Marketing, Diane Hemming BSc (Hons) Business Management with Marketing, and Kate Eardley BSc (Hons) Agri-business. The Spearhead Prize is to the group that has attained the highest mark in the Management Consultant Project module. The Taylor McNally Foundation Award is presented to Olivia Thorn, FdSc Animal Management and Welfare, by foundation secretary Basil Bayne at the Harper Adams University graduation prize-giving. Olivia, 22, from Winchester, Hampshire, receives the award for the high quality of her poultry project report. Dr Graham Scott said: “Olivia presented an excellent project report which was of a very high standard. She researched the flooring preference of laying hens for nesting sites. She planned, executed and analysed her work to a very high standard.” The Terex Shield is presented to George Cooper, BSc (Hons) Off Road Vehicle Design, by Steve Price. The award is made annually at the Harper Adams University graduation prize-giving to the best student off-road vehicle design student. Lecturer Greg Rowsell said: “George, a JCB Scholar, graduates today with a first-class honours. He completed his industrial placement year with JCB, who also sponsored his final year project for which he investigated loadall hydraulic performance. George leaves us to start his graduate career with JCB as a Loadall Test & Development Engineer Nick Tavernor, British Texel Sheep Society Chairman, presents the Texel Sheep Society Educational Award to Gwenllian Thomas, BSc (Hons) Animal Science, at the Harper Adams University graduation prize-giving. The award goes to the student who has attained the highest mark on a sheep production related honours research project Harriet Griffin BSc (Hons) Rural Property Management, receives the Thomas Haseley Award from Senior Lecturer Susan Ragbourne. This award is presented annually to the final year Rural Property Management student who has made the learning experience more enjoyable for other students throughout their time at Harper Adams. Beth Bason, BSc (Hons) Countryside Management, receives the Twose Prize from Senior Lecturer Dr Richard Green. The prize, presented at the Harper Adams University graduation prize-giving, recognises the best improvement in achievement during the course of countryside degree programmes. The UPM Tilhill Ltd prize is presented to Richard Tallents BSc (Hons) Countryside and Environmental Management, from Tilhill Regional Harvesting Manager Iwan Williams, at the Harper Adams University graduation prize-giving. The award recognises the best final year student studying modules “sustainable forestry” and “forest products”. Katie James FdSc Agri-food Marketing with Business Studies, receives the Wynnstay Beef Award from Steve Jarrett, of Wynnstay, at the Harper Adams University graduation prize-giving. The award is presented annually for the best beef project or dissertation. Hu Yuanhua presents the Zhejiang Hengyi Group Prize to Haixiao Wang, BSc (Hons) International Business Management, at the Harper Adams University graduation prize-giving. The prize recognises the student who has displayed the greatest contributions to cultural integration and awareness

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