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News: Nottingham College students win Young Creative Awards

Please note: This news story may contain information that is no longer current or up to date.

Four Nottingham College students are winners in the 2021 Nottingham Young Creative Awards. Plus 10 students are Highly Commended by the judges. Our students have been successful across different creative categories.

They are studying on a range of courses, including: 

  • 3D Design and Architecture 
  • Art and Design 
  • Fashion and Textiles 
  • Performing Arts
  • Photography
  • TV and Film 

The four winning students are:

  • Leanne Platt, aged 18: Design and Architecture 16 – 18 age category 
  • Weronika Szymczak aged 17: Fashion and Textiles 16 – 18 age category 
  • Tawana Tongoona aged 17: Theatre 16 – 18 age category 
  • Bekithemba Ncube aged 18: Visual Arts 16 – 18 age category 

The winning students will receive cash prizes, plus special showcase and development opportunities. 

The 10 Highly Commended students are:

  • Design and Architecture — Aminah Shujahat and Ethan Marshall 
  • Fashion and Textiles — Avelyn Hawthorn Brownlee and Halima Mahmood
  • Film — Claudia Vaccarini 
  • Graphic Design- Maddy Horrigan 
  • Photography — Leah Handley and Abbie Wall 
  • Theatre — Elizabeth Bacon and Louis Barnes-Cupit 

The awards give young people across the city the chance to be recognised for their creative talents. 

Shape your future with a Nottingham College course

If you’re feeling inspired and want to shape your future, we’re ready and waiting to help you build it. You can apply now for courses starting in September at Nottingham College. 

Design and Architecture winner Leanne

Leanne's industrial lamp
Leanne's lamp which includes three spiral shades, a structure made of pipes and a concrete base

Leanne is on a Level 3 3D Design and Architecture course. 

She said: I was really excited when I found out I had won, and it has definitely boosted my confidence. 

I’m really grateful to be able to put this on my CV. It will be really beneficial when trying to get design work experience. 

I have a conditional offer for Nottingham Trent University to study Architecture in September. My course has prepared me well for going to university. It’s provided me with skills that I will be able to take with me.” 

Fashion and Textiles winner Weronika

Weronika's asymmetric top
Weronika's sleeveless top, inspired by winter with a large snowflake pattern and white base

Weronika is on a Level 3 Fashion and Textiles course. She said: As soon as I found out I was shortlisted I couldn’t believe it! It was like a dream come true. 

Knowing that the judges loved my project and saw something special in it means so much to me! I truly appreciate it. It gave me the confidence and motivation that I needed to carry on with improving my fashion design and sewing. 

This opportunity will definitely help me in the future and will look great on a CV. I heard about the competition from my Textiles teacher and I’m so glad I decided to give it a go!” 

Theatre winner Tawana

Tawana Tongoona outside the College's City Hub campus

Level 3 Acting student Tawana’s winning entry was an acting monologue. He played the character of a son having a one-to-one conversation with his father. In the piece, the son stands up to his father about not letting him have opportunities in life. 

Tawana said: Teachers at Nottingham College, and at the drama group I go to outside college, said to just grab opportunities when you can. So I just went for it! 

But when I found out my name was on the winners list, it was a shock at first and just like a massive buzz! 

I’m going onto a Level 4 Performing Arts course at Nottingham College in September. 

I’ve found that you get offered loads of opportunities here. You’ll always have something to do in acting, and that’s the best part about my college course!” 

Visual Arts winner Bekithemba

Bekithemba's entry Chaos and Viewpoint:2020 riots, mostly in black and white plus red and orange accents, in a piece made up of shards of different pictures including of buildings.

Young Creative Awards said: Bekithemba won for his emotive series of collages, inspired by Black Lives Matter protests in 2020. The judges agreed Bekithemba’s entry was dynamic, responsive, and important – a great example of what contemporary art does.”

Congratulations to all the winners and Highly Commended students! You can also see more from them on the Nottingham Young Creative Awards Instagram account.

​ About the Young Creative Awards

Nottingham’s annual Young Creative Awards – sponsored by CarShop and Serif – is now in its 12th year. The awards are open to anyone aged 11 to 24 who lives, studies or works in Nottingham, across 11 categories. 

This story was updated on 29th June 2021 to include one more Highly Commended student.

Published on:
  • 22nd June 2021 (4:26 PM)
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