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Home > Student of the Year > 2007

Student of the Year 2007

Students nominated by their teachers and peers as 'outstanding' have been commended for their achievements during a prestigious awards evening.

Eighteen youths from across the county attended a lavish ceremony in Cardiff on Friday (September 14) for the annual Griffin Mill awards.

While all were nominated for their outstanding achievements in terms of educational standards, community involvement, voluntary work, only one could be named the overall winner.

Bethan John, of Treorchy Comprehensive, was announced as the Griffin Mill Student of the Year and presented with a brand-new Peugeot 207, which is hers to use for the next 12 months.

Bethan is soon to take up her place studying medicine at Cardiff University and the car will come in handy for the trips back home to Treorchy.

While Bethan was announced overall winner of the competition, now in its fourth year, regional winners were also commended.

Emma Cope from Tonypandy Comprehensive won the Rhondda region, Luke Robbins Ross of Y Pant won the Taff Ely region and Matthew Williams of Aberdare Boys won the Cynon region.

Aberdare Boys’ Matthew Barnes was also commended for his unofficial community work dressed as Santa on a bicycle and Mountain Ash’s Samantha Williams was commended for encouraging the female contingent to have a go at the off-road driving on the activity day that formed part of the Griffin Mill experience.

Bethan Ross received a special award for representing RCT in Borneo and Katie Foster was awarded for her 'off-road' driving skills.

As well as the individual awards, each nominee received £50 and guests also won prizes throughout the evening, which was held at the Mercure Holland House Hotel in Cardiff.

This is the fourth year Griffin Mill has run the event. This year, prior to the awards, all 18 nominees met at the Vale of Glamorgan for an outdoor activity day in May.

Anthony Griffin, Managing Director of Griffin Mill Garages, said: “It was not easy choosing a winner as the calibre of students is so high again this year.”

Cllr Mike Forey, Cabinet member for Education, said: “Griffin Mill is a prestigious competition and we are delighted to be able to play a key role in it for the fourth year.

“The achievements of all 18 nominees are truly inspiring and they should be proud of themselves. I hope their stories and successes will also act as an incentive to others.”

The 18 nominees and their next steps in the educational system are:

Rebecca Barnes, Aberdare Girls’ School, off to study Maths and Physics in Bristol.

Matthew Williams, Aberdare Boy’s School, studying natural sciences at Robinson College, Cambridge.

Hayleigh Brookes, Blaengwawr, studying English Literature and Drama at Goldsmiths College, London.

Laura Nation, Bryncelynnog, studying Medicine at Cardiff.

Stuart Cooper, Coedylan, who is taking a GAP year before looking to study medicine in Leeds.

Laura Dyer, Newman RC, studying economics and accountancy at Swansea.

Alex Britton, Ferndale, studying Radiotherapy and Oncology at Cardiff.

Rosie Williams, Porth, studying dentistry at Cardiff University.

Katie Foster, St Johns CIW, who is taking a GAP year before looking to study medicine.

Emma Cope, Tonypandy Community College, studying biomedical science at Cardiff.

Adam Kinsey, Tonyrefail, studying property development with quantity surveying at Portsmouth.

Bethan John, Treorchy, studying medicine at Cardiff.

Samantha Williams, Mountain Ash, studying English and psychology at Swansea.

Luke Robbins-Ross, Y Pant, studying Spanish at Durham.

Owain Jefferies, YG Cymer, studing aeronautical engineering with propulsion at Swansea.

Bethan Ross, Garth Olwg, studying physics and astronomy at Durham.

Teleri Bevan, YG Llanharia, studying history and philosophy at Cardiff.

William Thomas, YG Rhydywaun, studying music (organ scholarship) at Lincoln College, Oxford.

Student of the Year 2007 award nominees

This article was also featured in: Rhondda Cynon Taf