High-performing students are recognised at 2020 IQ Student Awards

James Thorne, Chief Executive Officer, IQ, explains: “This year's awards are unlike any other due to the restrictions caused by COVID-19. The awards ceremony should have taken place during IQ’s annual Fellows’ Lunch at the Tower of London; sadly that hasn’t been possible, so instead we have arranged for the winners’ employers to present their individual awards and prizes.”

The IQ Student Awards recognise those studying any one of the higher education courses at the University of Derby’s Centre for Mineral Products. Each award is recognition of an individual’s outstanding achievement and continuous commitment to the minerals extractives industry.

Mark Osbaldeston is the Head of the Centre for Mineral Products at the University of Derby. He says: “It is a real shame that we can’t physically be together to celebrate the successes of this year’s cohort of IQ Student Award winners. We are proud of how all of our students have managed their studies alongside the challenges that the coronavirus pandemic has thrown our way. This year’s award winners have excelled themselves. On behalf of everyone at the University of Derby Centre for Mineral Products, congratulations.”

2020 IQ Student Award winners

Callam Brough MIQ, Area Technical Supervisor at Aggregate Industries, was awarded The Goodwin Barsby Award, originally endowed by Leicester-based manufacturers Goodwin Barsby, and a £200 prize, for Best Honours Degree Student 2020. He joined the Honours course in January 2018 and has been exceptional throughout the two years. He scored highly on all the five modules and achieved a first class Honours degree with an average score of 77.3%. To achieve such a high mark, at this level, is a massive achievement and demonstrates dedication, intelligence, and a very healthy slice of sheer hard work.

Lewis Pinch TMIQ, Process Engineer, Tarmac Cement & Lime, was revealed as The Reginald W Coles Prize winner, endowed in memory of past President of IQ, Mr R. W. Coles. He also received a £200 prize. Presented to the Best Overall Mineral Extractives Student Foundation Degree, Lewis’ tutors praised him for his hard work since he joined the course in September 2017. Over the three academic years, he has never missed a tutorial weekend, never required an extension of time for assignments and has generally delivered exceptional work that clearly shows his level of learning and knowledge.

Wayne Cole TMIQ, 8.1.D, Breedon Group, was crowned the winner of The Scottish Springbank Quaich Award for Best Third Year Mineral Extractive Foundation Degree Student 2020, as well as a £200 prize. Wayne proved a very able student over the three years of the course. His tutors commented that his assignments never proved to be rushed, were always laid out well and always in a very logical order. What was also very apparent is that he always used the feedback from marking tutors to ensure continual improvement in his learning and assignment submissions.

James Forrester, Higher Apprentice at Aggregate Industries, won The Ransomes Rapier Award, endowed by the historical excavator manufacturers, as well as a £200 prize for Best Mineral Extractives Higher Apprentice 2020. He has been praised for constantly striving to improve his work and is described by his tutors as a model student. James has always handed in work to the highest quality, achieving an average of over 85% in six modules over the two years of his Level 5 apprenticeship and consistently handed in his ‘Off the Job Training’ records at the end of each month, which is a requirement of the Higher Apprenticeship.

Best UK Mineral Extractives Diploma Student 2020, Mawgan Naylor, Graduate Trainee Manager, Hanson, was awarded The Peter Preston Award (UK), bestowed by the late Peter Preston, Managing Director of the Cliffe Hill Granite Co, and a £200 prize. Mawgan scored exceptionally high in both Minerals Management (double module) and Mineral Extractives with an average for the year of 92%, proving what hard work and commitment can achieve. Her tutors recognised the extreme efforts she put into her assignments, which were always on time and of a very high standard.

Two Longcliffe Calcium Carbonates Awards of Excellence were awarded to the Best Performing Mineral Extractives Foundation Degree Students in Year One and Two. Winners also received a £200 prize. The first year of the Foundation Degree can be a challenge for many, due to time out from education, but Lewis Coxon, Trainee Quarry Manager, Cemex UK Materials, had no such issues and excelled in all three modules with an unprecedented average of 94%. His tutors were particularly impressed with how punctual his assignments were, with good information communicated in a logical, well laid out fashion.

Year 2 student, Jonathan Nicholls MIQ, Unit Manager, Tarmac A&A, has achieved an overall average of 86% over the 4 modules. He was always present at tutorials and never late with assignments. His tutors described Jonathan as an enthusiastic, committed student with the potential to excel, and would not be surprised if his name is present in next year’s awards list.

The Higher Education qualifications, through the partnership with the Mineral Products Centre, are delivered by the University of Derby in partnership with IQ and go hand in hand with everyday operations in the quarrying industry. Earlier this year 119 students, representing a wide range of quarry operators and associated industries, successfully graduated from the University.

Read the article online at: https://www.worldcement.com/europe-cis/13102020/high-performing-students-are-recognised-at-2020-iq-student-awards/