23rd July 2024
A keen badminton player, who represented his college at the sport, has been named Sports Learner of the Year by Barking & Dagenham College.
18-year-old Jamie Friend from Dagenham has been playing badminton since he was seven years old. When he joined college two years ago to do a BTEC in sport, he found that the teachers encouraged his passion for the game by supporting him with training. Their backing gave him the opportunity to compete in regional and national championship Badminton tournaments alongside his studies. Not only talented athletically, Jamie has also excelled academically and is hoping to net a triple distinction grade when he gets his BTEC results in August. Jamie says: “I was overwhelmed to be named learner of the year. Thank you very much to my teachers who provided me with so much support during my time at college.”
Lucas Michael, Sports and Protective Services Lecturer adds: “Jamie's academic performance has been exemplary, consistently producing work of a high standard and achieving distinctions in all assignments. Initially shy and introverted, Jamie has embraced challenges presented by tutors, excelling as a student ambassador, class representative, and student mentor.”
Jamie has a place at the University of Suffolk in 2025 for Sports Performance Analysis. He is taking a year out to relax, plus continue his part time work at leisure centre.
