At the Edexcel Achievement in Education Awards last night (5th July), it was announced that Miss Lindsay Dixon is the Edexcel Outstanding Student of the Year 2001. Aged just 19, Lindsay's exceptional educational achievements, tireless commitment to her local community and willingness to help others inspired the celebrity judging panel to choose her. The judges included Simon Callow, Charlie Dimmock, Terry Waite, Arabella Weir and Simon Weston. | |
 | They were impressed at Lindsay's determination to succeed despite being labelled a "low achiever" before her dyslexia was diagnosed at the age of 14. Terry Waite said: "Anyone who despairs about the younger generation ought to meet the candidates for the Edexcel 'Outstanding Student of the Year' award. They are intelligent, hard working and enthusiastic. They are also a testimony to the many teachers throughout the British Isles who work long and hard and constantly achieve outstanding results" |
 | The Outstanding Student of the Year Award 2001 is sponsored by Nelson Thornes, a leading UK educational publisher offering a wide choice of innovative resources for students of all abilities. |
| Lindsay receives a cash prize of £5,000 to spend on furthering her education, with £5,000 also going to Runshaw College who nominated her. Commenting on the award she said: "I am absolutely delighted. For the past two years I have been studying for the Advanced GNVQ in Health & Social Care. I am on course to achieve a distinction and this is the icing on the cake. I am now looking forward to starting my degree at university." Lindsay is also a fundraiser for local charities, Barnardo's volunteer, qualified guide leader, and canoeist. She is currently working towards her Duke of Edinburgh Gold Award and taking courses in sign language and first aid. |  |
"Lindsay is an inspiration to us all" said Edexcel's Chief Executive, Tina Townsend. "She demonstrates so well that hard work gets rewarded and no goal can ever be set too high." "Edexcel provides the widest range of vocational and academic qualifications because we believe that everyone has a special talent - something they are good at. We are proud to play our part in helping Lindsay to develop her potential. "Each of our celebrity panel has enjoyed exceptional achievements in their own particular field. That is what these awards are all about - a celebration of individual achievement." Lindsay Dixon was chosen as the Outstanding Student of the Year from the winners of six awards: the Academic Achievement Award, Learning Through Work Award, Lifelong Learning Award, BTEC High National Award and the Vocational and Academic Achievement Award. Lindsay has already won the Vocational Achievement Award. For more information on the other winners and sponsors, see Edexcel Achievement in Education Awards - Winners (22/06/2001) and Edexcel Achievement in Education Awards - Sponsors (22/06/2001). | |
