Talented Grimsby Institute students honoured for creativity and sensational skills

BUDDING beauticians and sensational stylists were rewarded at a glitzy end-of-year award ceremony.

Hair and beauty students at the Grimsby Institute celebrated another successful college year after receiving a host of awards for their efforts at the annual Hair And Beauty Learner Awards.

Dolled up in their finest attire, tens of students took to the stage in front of their family, friends and course mates at the event which honoured creativity, hard work and sensational skills.

Hairdressing learning tutor and co-ordinator of the artistic team Janice Yardley expressed her pride in the young talent on show.

She said: "We have had extremely talented students come through this year and tonight we have seen exactly what they can do. They have had a lot of success in competitions throughout the year.

"We always encourage students to enter competitions. It is preparation for when they finish here.

"Tonight we have honoured a year's worth of work and they have been rewarded for their excellence, creativity and generally being amazing students."

The award winners were nominated by their tutors who judged them on their performance throughout the year.

Keziah Howden, 18, a student of beauty therapy took home an international award for her skills.

She said: "I am absolutely thrilled. It is an amazing feeling but I don't think it has really sunk in yet. Beauty therapy is something I have always wanted to do and I love doing it, which makes it easier.

"I didn't expect to win, I was thrilled just to be shortlisted."

Keziah, who works at Beauty By Louise, in Waltham, will qualify in July and hopes her award will stand her in good stead for a beautiful future.

For the students, winning awards does not just fill them with pride, but they hope it will help them launch their careers once they have finished training.

Fellow award winner Wendy Brown, 18, a hairdressing student, has dreams of owning her own salon.

She said: "The award show has been really good. I was really looking forward to it. It has been a great year, I have enjoyed it and I have got involved in a lot of competitions.

"I love making someone look completely different, it is strange how happy you can make someone by doing their hair.

"I want to own my own salon one day and it will be great to say 'award-winning stylist'.

Fellow award-winning hairdressing student Hannah Allison, 18, added: "It has been a great night and we have had a great year. The competitions are the part I enjoy the most. It feels great to win an award."

The students and the audience were entertained between awards by hairdressing student and solo singer Emily Orchard, 17, who belted out Alexandra Burke's version of Hallelujah and Leon Lewis' version of Run.

Mrs Yardley added: "I feel very proud of them, as do all their tutors."

The Graduate Salon Celebration Awards Night

NVQ Level Hairdressing – Kathleen Howard

NVQ Level 1 Beauty Therapy – Megan Crabtree

VRQ Level 2 Diploma in Hairdressing – Eve Marshall

VRQ Level 2 Diploma Evening Course Hairdressing

NVQ Level 2 Hairdressing Intermediate Apprentice Year 1 - Nikita Goldbach

Level 2 Barbering – Leanne Hodgson

NVQ Level 2 Beauty Therapy – Paige Marshall

NVQ Level 2 Evening Course Hairdressing – Leanne Morley

NVQ Level 2 Intermediate Apprentice Hairdressing Year 2 – Jessica Page

NVQ Level 2 Hairdressing – Year 2 Joint Winners – Wendy Brown & Hannah Allison

NVQ Level 3 Advanced Apprentice Beauty – Adela Grey

NVQ Level 3 Advanced Apprentice Hairdressing – Courtney Dennis

NVQ Level 3 Beauty Therapy – Nicola Ward

NVQ Level 2 Hairdressing – Katy Wilks