Two City and Islington College (CANDI) students have received recognition for their academic performance and dedication to their studies as part of the Open College Network (OCN) Awards. Vlad Starchenko and Thamina Rahman, who completed the Access to Engineering Diploma at CANDI, were awarded Michael Sargent Bursary Awards.
Vlad Starchenko received the Outstanding Academic Achievement Award. He was nominated for the award because of the exceptional quality of his work, his commitment to assisting his peers and his dedication to the pursuit of knowledge.
Vlad’s teachers said: “Vlad is an extraordinary individual whose journey and accomplishments are truly inspiring. His outstanding academic achievements, particularly in the face of adversity and personal challenges, demonstrate a level of excellence and dedication that is rarely seen.”
Vlad will go forward to be considered for the National Access to Higher Education Keith Fletcher Prize. Having completed the Access to Engineering Diploma, he has gone on to study Games Programming at Ravensbourne University, London
Thamina Rahman was selected as runner up for the Outstanding Commitment to Study Award.
Thamina completed the Access to Engineering Diploma after facing numerous challenges. The award recognises her dedication, resilience, and unwavering commitment to her studies.
Thamina’s teachers said: “Thamina’s journey began with an initial setback, as she joined the course as a late enroller around a month later than her peers. Despite this delay, she exhibited an unmatched work ethic, and although she had to work so much harder than the rest of her classmates to catch up, she ultimately achieved outstanding results in her Access to Engineering Diploma, achieving far more Distinctions than she believed possible.”
After successfully completing her course at CANDI, Thamina has been able to pursue her dreams and has accepted a place to study Aeronautical Engineering at Queen Mary University.