VICTOR TRUESDALE AWARD FOR CO. LOUTH MAN

Posted 15 April 2002

THE VICTOR Truesdale Award, for the final year student from Ireland who has made the greatest contribution to college life while studying at Harper Adams University College, has been awarded to a man from County Louth.

Graeme Treadwell, 24, from Dunleer, Co. Louth, has made an outstanding contribution to Harper Adams University College, the UK’s largest specialist institution of Higher Education for the land and food based industries, since he started there in 1996.

Graeme initially undertook a BTEC pre-entry course in Agricultural Science and then moved on to an HND in Agriculture with Crop Production, which included a dissertation on ‘The past, present and future of CAP and a critical analysis of the Agenda 2000 proposals.’ He will soon complete a top-up course in BSc (Hons) Agri-food with Marketing, Management and Business Studies.

From the moment he joined Harper Adams, Graeme was determined to make the most of his time at the college and always planned to become actively involved with the Students’ Union and with the Harper Ireland society for students from all over the island of Ireland.

Over the last six years, Graeme has become actively involved with the Students’ Union executive and has served Harper Ireland in numerous ways, culminating in his term as Vice President during 2001/2002. He also became a warden in the Gloucester Hall of Residence at the college, acting as a representative and first point of contact, help and advice for the students living there.

Announcing the award, the judges said: “Graeme put together a very original style of CV that highlighted his leadership qualities and determination to succeed, as well as his career aspirations to work in the agricultural sector and become a prominent voice for the future within Ireland.

“In addition, he confidently dealt with the interview and we feel that he has best grasped the opportunities that were there for him whilst at Harper Adams, including a work placement in the United States that he organised through the college’s contacts with Ohio State University, and extensive overseas travel.”

The Victor Truesdale Award will be presented to Graeme Treadwell at the Harper Adams in Ireland dinner, which takes place in Portlaoise on April 19.

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Caption: Graeme Treadwell hands over the mantle of leadership as Vice President of Harper Ireland to Peter Coburn at the society's annual dinner last month.