WM College Learner Awards 2025

WM College’s annual Learner Awards 2025 took place on Friday 17 October 2025, bringing together learners, staff, governors, community partners and special guests to celebrate outstanding achievement across the College. The afternoon captured everything that makes WM College special — resilience, creativity, kindness, and lifelong learning, all set to the backdrop of learner performances and heartfelt stories. 

A celebration of lifelong learning 

The event opened with performances from WM College learners and a warm welcome from Principal, Dipa Ganguli OBE, followed by remarks from the Mayor of Camden, Eddie Hanson, who praised the College’s role in building opportunity and community across the borough. 

Speaking to guests, the Mayor said, 

“WM College is a very important asset here in our community here in Camden. I’m so really proud of the staff here, the volunteers, the learners, the families that are supporting the learners that are coming here as well, the partners, the trustees. 

This borough does great things for our community in Camden. Sometimes us as a community, we do focus on our young people, but what we do forget as well is our residents who are much older, who spend their time looking after these young people, have sacrificed their careers and sometimes they feel left behind. It is through organisations like WM College that uplift these individuals, parents and carers, gives them hope, gives them that confidence, gives them that belief again that they too can achieve something and make a better life for themselves as well. 

You look at the audience today and see the different age groups that come to this particular college, and we are so grateful and appreciative as a local authority to have such an asset, a sense of community focus that supports our diverse community here in Camden. 

As long as you’re in WM College, everybody is a winner because this place is an iconic place. This place is 171 years old, you are still going, still transforming, still changing lives.” 

Throughout the awards ceremony, we also had the pleasure of welcoming a fantastic line-up of guest presenters from across education, culture, and the creative industries. Each guest brought their own unique perspective and helped to celebrate the achievements of WM College learners. 
Presenters included Caroline McDonald (HOLEX), Jamal Mohammed (British Library), Joanna Davidson CBE (Board of Governors, WM College), Eddie Hanson (Mayor of Camden, Camden Council), Zerritha Brown (Camden Council), Jodie Eastwood (Knowledge Quarter), Jack Sunnucks (Dazed), and Lisa Jewell (international best-selling author and Patron). 

Their involvement highlighted the strong partnerships WM College continues to build across London, reinforcing the College’s role as a hub for learning, creativity, and community collaboration all in the heart of Camden, London.

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Celebrating our 2025 award winners 

This year’s Learner Awards recognised individuals from across all areas of the College who have shown exceptional dedication, creativity, and personal growth.  

Community Partner of the Year 
Winner: Kundakala 
Recognised for empowering women from ethnic minority backgrounds through creative and confidence-building programmes in partnership with Rhyl Primary School. 

Resilience Award 
Winner: Aimee H – for rebuilding her life while balancing single parenthood and study, progressing toward her goal of becoming a nurse. 
Highly Commended: Dorys C and Gabriel H 
Honourable Mentions: Aileen J and Rosemary W 

Kindness in Learning Award 
Winner: Ergun U – for consistently supporting classmates and tutors with empathy and positivity. 
Highly Commended: Aduke H and Amina A 

Exceptional Progress Award 
Winner: Mheealden D – for his rapid progress from no English to working, studying independently, and supporting others within just seven months. 
Highly Commended: Amy S

Learning for Work Award 
Winner: Shahar B – for overcoming multiple challenges, growing confidence, and securing sustained employment through learning. 
Highly Commended: Jacob A 

Outstanding Group Achievement 
Winner: Fashion & Textiles Learners (Portraits of Camden Quilt) – for their collaborative and creative project that celebrated local stories through textile art. 
Highly Commended: Confidence with English (Community Offsite Group) 

Lowes Dickinson Awards 
Overall Winner: Hilary B – Synchrony 
Principal’s Award: Simeon P – A Route to Safety 

Departmental Awards 
Creative Arts – Barbara D 
ESOL – Mheealden D 
Maths – Kaltrina M 
Business – Mariam T 
ICT – Gabriel H 
English – Jake P 
Foundation Art & Design – Valerie B 

Inspirational Learner of the Year 
Winner: Nataliia B – a war refugee, single mother, and PhD student who embodies the courage, resilience, and ambition that define WM College learners. 

Performances and special guests 

The afternoon also featured stunning performances by WM College learners, including Detelina D, Peter T, and a showcase by the Fashion and Textiles Quilt Group, followed by a breathtaking finale from Soprano Valerie Wong. 

Principal Dipa Ganguli OBE closed the ceremony with thanks to staff, partners, and the College community for their ongoing commitment to learning and inclusion, reminding everyone that WM College’s mission – transforming lives through enriching and inclusive lifelong learning – continues to shine through every success story celebrated that afternoon.