Olivia Boyd who studies A-levels at Coleg Meirion-Dwyfor’s Pwllheli campus has been named Student of the Year.

The college celebrated its outstanding students at its 2024/25 Achievers’ Awards Ceremony.

Olivia was named ‘Student of the Year’, while 13 of her peers were also recognised for excelling in their programme areas.

Award winners were joined by family and friends for the ceremony at the Dolgellau campus.

Grŵp Llandrillo Menai CEO Aled Jones-Griffith presented Olivia with her Student of the Year award, along with a £200 voucher.

He said she “excelled both academically and personally, showing a genuine passion for learning that extends far beyond the classroom”.

Olivia has achieved A* grades in her exams to date, and is predicted further A* results this summer. Alongside her full-time studies, she has also contributed more than 30 hours of work to the Engineering Education Scheme Wales project.

Presenting the award, Mr Jones-Griffith said to Olivia: “You have consistently displayed perseverance, maturity and emotional resilience. It is no exaggeration to say that you have been outstanding in every respect. We have no doubt that you will go on to achieve great things in the future.”

The winners from each programme area were presented with a trophy by Coleg Meirion-Dwyfor principal Dr Siôn Peters-Flynn.

He also presented the Robin Llyr Evans Sports Shield and Glesni Davies Memorial Cup. Both are awarded in memory of former students, to learners who have excelled in sport.

Opening the ceremony, Dr Peters-Flynn said: “It is a personal privilege for me to be here to present these prestigious awards to a group of students who will be recognised for their hard work and dedication during the past year.

“Our award winners have been nominated as students who have gone that extra mile, who have broken down barriers or who have excelled in their subject. This is what makes these awards very special, and a privilege to present.”

The ceremony featured guest speaker Jack Williams, a recent Coleg Meirion-Dwyfor student who won the bronze medal in the 2024 World Waiter of the Year competition in Singapore.

A native of Dolgellau, Jack completed his Level 2 Hospitality and Catering studies at the college a year ago, winning the 2023/24 award for his programme area. He worked in Penmaenuchaf Hotel before joining the fire service.

The full list of winners from the Coleg Meirion-Dwyfor 2024/25 Achievers Awards is as follows:

A-level (Sciences) and Student of the Year: Olivia Boyd

A-level (Humanities): Angharad Sophia Thomas

Art and Design: Lara Edwards

Business: Ellie Brown

Computing: Thomas Wyn Beddall

Construction: Daniel Young

Engineering: Robert John Gunton

Hair and Beauty: Kimberley Hart

Health and Social Care: Alaw Mai Robyns

Health and Care with Child Care: Grace Roberts

Hospitality and Catering: Charlotte Lamb

Skills for Work and Life: Keira Martin-Jones

Welsh Student of the Year: Alaw Mai Robyns

Robin Llyr Evans Sports Shield: Tomos Morgan

Glesni Davies Memorial Cup: Osian Morris

Grŵp Llandrillo Menai offers a range of educational and training courses. Learn more at gllm.ac.uk.