Kathryn wins Victor Truesdale Award 2015

Posted 2 March 2015

Kathryn Mills from Moneymore, County Londonderry, is the winner of the 2015 Victor Truesdale Prize at Harper Adams University in Shropshire. 

The award is presented in memory of Victor Truesdale, former sales director of John Thompson & Sons Ltd, who died in 2001.  The prize consists of a specially commissioned crystal punch bowl and a cheque presented by sponsors John Thompson & Sons Ltd. 

Dr David McCleery, Victor’s nephew, presented the award this year at the annual Harper Ireland dinner.

In presenting the award, Dr. McCleery spoke of his late uncle and of his delight in meeting Kathryn.  The prize recognises the qualities of leadership, team building and effective communication, which were so important to Victor.

A former student at Rainey Endowed School in Magherafelt, Kathryn is a final year Food Nutrition and Wellbeing degree student.  In her placement year, she undertook a project for Marks and Spencer.  

At Harper Adams, she was elected secretary of the Harper Ireland student club and was an ambassador representing the university at open days and other events including the Balmoral Show.  She provided a strong female role-model particularly for first year students as she was warden of the halls of resident for students aged under 18. 

In 2011, she was awarded the Dunbia Scholarship and has recently been awarded the YFCU exchange award to Montana, which she takes up in July.

Accepting the award, Kathryn said she was honoured and thanked John Thompson & Sons Ltd for continuing the annual award now in its fourteenth year.