‘Student of the year’ is rewarded for fantastic achievement
An entrepreneurial academic from Kirklees College has been named as the ‘Student of the Year’ in a prestigious nationwide contest.
Arun Kumar was awarded the accolade in the ‘Level Three category’ from the Peter Jones Enterprise Academy and was invited to London’s Freemason’s Hall to celebrate.
There, he joined young people from colleges across the country for an afternoon ceremony with Peter Jones CBE, whose charity, the Peter Jones Foundation, runs the academy.
All students collected scrolls from the Dragons’ Den star and HRH the Duke of York, who is patron of the Peter Jones Foundation.
A select few received individual awards in recognition of their achievements throughout the year.
Judges said Arun, from Meltham, was selected for ‘demonstrating the key entrepreneurial qualities the courses aim to achieve’.
Michael Hayman MBE said on stage Arun had been rewarded for his ‘brilliant combination of talent, attitude and achievement’.
Arun said: “Thank you to everyone at PJEA and Kirklees College for your support and guidance this year.
“I am humbled and ecstatic about winning the award. It was also an honour to meet Peter Jones and HRH The Duke of York. Best of luck to everyone at PJEA and see you next year.”
The Peter Jones Enterprise Academy is a nationwide network of colleges that deliver specialist courses in enterprise and entrepreneurship, promoting a practical approach to business education.
Students are encouraged to set up and run their own businesses, gaining real-life experience of what it takes to get a company off the ground.
Peter Jones said: “Every year I am more and more impressed by the confidence, dedication and passion shown by our students.
“I launched the academy in 2009 to give young entrepreneurs the skills and opportunities to pursue a worthwhile and rewarding career.
“As the UK embarks on an uncertain post-EU economic path, young people – as the next generation of business leaders – have a crucial role to play in our country’s future. It is important that they come together to propel the UK’s entrepreneurial sector firmly forward.”
