North West Regional College (NWRC) student Rebecca Wray has been named the first-ever recipient of The Gerard Finnegan Memorial Cup, at the 2022 Best in FE (Further Education) celebrations.
Rebecca, who studied the CACHE Level 3 CCLD (Children’s Care, Learning and Development) Diploma at the college’s Strand Road Campus, was among more than 240 students whose achievements were celebrated after completing courses at one of NWRC’s five main campuses.
This is the inaugural year of the award, which was founded in memory Gerard Finnegan who passed away earlier this year. Gerard Finnegan, a long-time friend to NWRC was chair of the College’s governing body. The Gerard Finnegan award was created in recognition of his integrity and passion for education. Rebecca was presented with the cup by Gerard’s wife Máire Finnegan.
NWRC’s 2022 Best in FE event took place at Derry~Londonderry’s Millennium Forum hosted by BBC presenter and weather forecaster Barra Best. The event celebrates the achievements of Further Education graduates from the College’s campuses across Derry~Londonderry, Strabane, and Limavady. The special guest for this year’s event was former student and Ultra Athlete Danny Quigley who completed ten iron man challenges in ten consecutive days raising more than £100,00 for local charities.
Siobhan Faulkner of NWRC’s Learning Link who nominated Rebecca for the award said: “Rebecca commenced her studies on the transition programme and will complete her Level 3 course this year. She is an extremely hard worker and she has achieved so much at NWRC, no matter what the challenge is, she is determined to do her best.
“Rebecca doesn’t like the limelight, but we feel her achievements should be recognised. She is a worthy winner of this important award at NWRC and we are all so proud of her.”
For more information on courses at NWRC visit www.nwrc.ac.uk/apply
