The Institute of Quarrying’s (IQ) annual Student Awards took pride of place at this year’s ‘Inspiring for Generations’ centenary dinner at the Belfry in Sutton Coldfield.
The eight winners from the University of Derby’s Centre for Mineral Products Professional Development received their awards in front of an audience of more than 200 guests drawn from across the mineral extractives sector. Mark Osbaldeston, Head of Centre for Mineral Products at the University of Derby, presented each winner with an award, accompanied by Dr Miles Watkins, IQ President and James Thorne, IQ CEO.
James Thorne says: “The IQ Student Awards are presented for academic excellence to students attending the University of Derby’s Centre for Mineral Products Professional Development. Each winner has excelled in their own field and each award is recognition of outstanding achievement.
“There are six award categories, each of which is named after a legacy sponsor from within the industry. This year we have two winners in two of the categories, alongside individual winners in each of the remaining four categories. Our congratulations go out to all winners.”
The Goodwin Barsby Award, originally endowed by Leicester-based manufacturers Goodwin Barsby, was awarded to Gary Morgan for Best Honours Degree Student 2017. Gary, employed by Hanson UK, is now Area Operations Manager based in the South West of England.
The Reginald W Coles Prize, bequeathed in memory of Mr. R. W. Coles, a past President of IQ, was awarded to Robert Symes for Best Foundation Degree 2017. Robert, employed by Tarmac, is now South West Area Operation Manager at Stancombe Quarry in Bristol.
The Ransomes Rapier Award, endowed by the historical excavator manufacturers, was awarded to Joshua Mason for Best Higher Apprentice 2017. Joshua, employed by Tarmac, is now Assistant Quarry Manager at Ballidon Quarry in Ashbourne.
The Springbank Quaich Award was awarded to Bartosz Smoczek for Best Foundation Degree Student 2017. Bartosz is employed by Breedon and is Assistant Quarry Manager at Craigenlow Quarry in Aberdeenshire.
Two Longcliffe Calcium Carbonate Awards of Excellence were awarded to Gary Meredith, first year student, and Derrick Mingo, second year student, for Foundation and Certificate Year respectively. Gary, employed by Tarmac, is Asphalt Plant Operator at Bayston Hill Quarry in Shrewsbury, and Derrick, employed by Imerys, is Mobile Plant Supervisor at Fal Valley Pits in Cornwall.
Two Peter Preston Awards, bestowed by the late Peter Preston, Managing Director of the Cliffe Hill Granite Co, were also awarded to Toby Byers for Best UK Diploma Student 2017, and Ciaran McCann for Best International Diploma Student 2017. Toby is employed by CEMEX UK and is now Assistant Quarry Manager at Leyburn Asphalt Plant in Leyburn.
The Higher Education qualifications, through the partnership with the Mineral Products Centre, are delivered by the University of Derby in partnership with IQ. You can find out more here.