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Outstanding students honoured in Nunthorpe Academy's annual awards

A student described by her form tutor as “one of the most inspirational people I have ever met” has been honoured at Nunthorpe Academy Awards Evening ceremony on the anniversary of her father’s death.

Year 11 prefect Laura Simpson, who achieved exemplary grades, helped raise thousands of pounds for charity and represented her school and county in athletics, all while overcoming personal tragedy and illness, has been presented with the Joelene Kimbley Award for Courage in Adversity by guest speaker and Shadowmancer author GP Taylor at Nunthorpe’s annual awards.

Despite losing her father to cancer last year and enduring a chronic and painful illness herself, Laura, 16, was an active part of the school community, helping to raise more than £4,000 for children’s hospice Zoe’s Place, and conducting acts of kindness to make other students’ days a little brighter.

As well as being an intrinsic part of the school community, Laura supported other students through their own difficulties, leading her tutor Ben Shaller, to describe her as “one of the most inspirational people I have ever met”.

Also honoured at the evening, held at Middlesbrough Town Hall was Evie Whitfield, 16, for her community spirit. Evie won the Citizenship Award after raising £750 for the Children’s Heart Unit Fund at Freeman Hospital, Newcastle. Evie was inspired by the plight of three-year-old Evie Clasper, who suffers from hypoplastic left heart syndrome and had to undergo no less than 13 operations in the first six months of her life.

Outstanding Sporting Achievement was given to Danielle Dunn, [INSERT AGE], who achieved eight gold, four silver and two bronze medals in Karate, representing Great Britain at the European Championships in Malta and Hungary.

Entrepreneurial Year Ten students Max James and Oliver Ripley, both 15, were awarded the Vantis Trophy for Enterprise, after raising £1,800 for charities Clic Sergeant and the Teenage Cancer Trust.

Debbie Clinton, Principal of Nunthorpe Academy, said: “The awards are an important recognition of students who have excelled and surpassed themselves in academic, pastoral, community and sporting areas during their time at Nunthorpe.

“It is wonderful to see these young people, who are shining examples of everything we hope our students will become, honoured for their hard work, dedication and commitment to excellence for the past five years. All are extremely worthy winners and we are extremely proud of them. For those who are leaving us in July, I wish them the very best of luck with their future work and studies.”

Entertainment at the event was provided by a variety of Nunthorpe Academy’s musicians and singers, culminating in students and teachers joining together to bring the house down with a rousing finale of One Day More, from Les Miserables.

Special Awards winners comprised:

Endeavour House Award - Nicholas Parkes; Invincible House Team – Charlotte Smith; Triumph House Team – Callum Widdowson; Valiant House Team – Amelia Shearer; Victory House Team – Jack Norman; Courage in Adversity – Laura Simpson; Citizenship Award – Evie Whitfield; Service to the Academy – Rebecca Henderson; Year 11 Improver – Leia Phillips; Outstanding Extra Curricular Music Award – Daniel Daley; Outstanding Extra Curricular Drama Award– Millie Smith; Outstanding Sporting Achievement Award – Danielle Dunn; Enterprise Award – Max James and Oliver Riley; Attendance Prize – Rochell Naylor-Iyayi; Outstanding Team Award – Year Ten Football Team; County Cup winners – Nathan Aldridge, Matthew Bartliff, Cameron Currie, Ryan Gibb, Dylan Gilhespie, Adam Goodridge, Joshua Holden, Oscar Hugill, Jordan Jewson, Matthew Lagan, Tommy Leech, Alexander McFarlane, Aaron McGinley, Daniel Rayner, Charlie Rennie, Andrew Ryan, Ross Taylor-Watson, Abdul Wahhab, Danny Wilson.

This was posted in Bdaily's Members' News section by Recognition PR Business Team .