YEOVIL NEWS: College duo are Pride of Somerset

YEOVIL College has been delighted that two of its students have been named as recipients of a Pride of Somerset award this year.

The annual awards are organised by the Rotary Club of Taunton in association with partners to recognise the efforts and achievements of some truly amazing young people in our community.

Parents and family members joined the award recipients at the presentation night held at Somerset College in Taunton last week.

Among the award winners were students 17-year-old Lily Kitto and Chloe Rose Green, 19.

The college is hugely proud of Lily for her hard work, determination to succeed and sporting achievement – all of which have been gained despite setbacks including serious injury.

As well as being a student at Yeovil where she is completing a BTEC Extended Diploma in Sport, Lily is a talented hockey player.

She was recently selected for the British Under-19s hockey team as a result of a large amount of training and hard work.

But college lecturer, Emma Ballard, said: “The journey was not easy, however, as Lily suffered torn ligaments in her hip last year leaving us all very disappointed that she couldn’t compete for a place in the national side.

“After three months of treatment and recovery, however, she was even more determined to succeed.”

Emma added: “Lily is an asset to the college, helps out other teams if they are in need of players, supports her peers and is helpful to members of staff.”

PHOTOS: Lily Kitto.

Lily is also a junior national young coach and an ambassador for England Hockey.

“She shows great commitment to her sport and encourages others to get involved, again something which makes us very proud of her,” said Emma.

Not often do you have the opportunity to see a person truly flourish, thrive and grow the way Chloe Rose Green has done in the past three years.

Chloe, 19, arrived at Yeovil College from a pupil-referral unit and many doubted that she would stick at her course.

But her tutor, Anna Hill, said: “She has absolutely smashed every target and pre-conceived idea of what she was capable of. Chloe intends to start university this year and I have no doubt she will.”

There were times when Chloe had so much work outstanding that many doubted her future.

But she was not going to give up that easily and, once the changes began, Chloe not only stayed afloat but began to greatly impress.

Chloe has completed Level 2 and 3 qualifications, additional certificates, has achieved GCSEs, completed three years of placements, fundraised, been tutor rep, student ambassador, campaigned for lesbian and gay awareness, and is now volunteering as a teaching assistant with lower level learners.

Anna added: “But there is much more than this. It is the personal battles that Chloe has fought and won; difficult home circumstances, finances, family, health, and emotional wellbeing.

“But nothing will stop her succeeding. She is one of the most inspirational people I have ever met.”

Other winners were Rhianna Hawkins, of Cheddon Fitzpaine; Alice Vernon, of Taunton; Alice Barnett-Jones; Hannah Bird, of Burnham-on-Sea; April Sage, of Taunton; Cathlin Bottomley, of Taunton; Jason Douglas Inchley, of Chard; Danny Elliott, of Taunton; Amy Frounks, of Taunton; Will Parry, of Shepton Mallet; Libby Checketts, of Taunton; Jason Hathway, of Bridgwater; and Yeovil brother and sister Charlie and Elizabeth Gingell.

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