A DOLGELLAU teenager has been named Student of the Year at a glitzy Coleg Menai awards ceremony in Caernarfon.

Nia Wyn James, 19, won a place on the first-ever intake of apprentices for Horizon Nuclear Power, and is fast becoming an ambassador for young Welsh women in Engineering.

On course for a Distinction in her studies, she won a Gold medal at the Skills Competition Wales Industrial Electronics competition earlier this year, which means that she will now go on to the UK finals.

She has also successfully completed the STEM ambassador training, and regularly represents her employer, Horizon Nuclear Power at school events and open days.

Coleg Menai Student Union president Nathan Davies from Bangor won the A-level award, 17-year old Zoe Adamkiewicz from Holyhead was awarded the Construction (Electrical) award and there were also presentations to the colleges’ football and rugby students who were awarded Welsh sporting caps after representing their country this year, including Sophie Ellis from Bethesda and Molly Kelly from Ty Croes for Women’s Rugby, and Klaudia Wojtyczka from Y Felinheli for Women’s Football.

College principal Linda Wyn hosted the packed event at Galeri, Caernarfon with Dafydd Evans, CEO of Grwp Llandrillo Menai presenting the Overall Student of the Year award. Former student Siôn Gareth Griffiths, now a successful camera operator and editor for Tinopolis Wales, was the guest speaker.

Ms Wyn, said: “Our awards ceremony is always a very proud evening for family members and friends, but it is also a wonderful occasion for us as college staff, as we look back on the last year and see just what our students have achieved.

“Each and every student who won an award has done so as a result of vocational or academic excellence, and outstanding motivation and commitment.

“Once again, I would like to pass on my congratulations to all the winners; I am certain that bright futures await them all.”