GRAYS School Media Arts College held its annual presentation evening at the Civic Hall, Blackshots, when current and former students were rewarded for their efforts which included the presentation of GCSE certificates and the awarding of special trophies for individual success in a range of academic areas.

More than 500 guests attended the evening and listened to guest speaker Lord Dubs who described how he came to this country as one of the 669 Czech children rescued from the Nazis by Nicholas Winton. Lord Dubs went on to become an MP, front bencher for Home Affairs regarding race, immigration & asylum., Director of the Refugee Council and Parliamentary Under Secretary for the State of the Northern Ireland office.

The school celebrated the achievements of many students this year and the motivational words of advice from Lord Dubs were appreciated by all members of the audience. The evening concluded with award winner Chelsea Massarella singing: “We’ll meet again” as a special recognition to Remembrance Day.

Individual award winners were:
Governors Award for Excellence in English: Marianne Brooker
The William Perry Award for Outstanding Achievement in English Oracy & Literacy: Nicholas MacDonald
The Rowland Hall Award for Excellence in Mathematics: Rishi Chavda
Cargill Award for Excellence in Science: Grace Story
The Douglas Gillam Award for Excellence in Modern Languages: Kirsty Lester
ASSI Display Print Award for Excellence in Art & Design: Rebecca Morley
E T Smallcombe Sports Award for Boys: Joseph Bajowa
E T Smallcombe Sports Award for Girls: Hannah Clarke
The National Westminster Bank Award for Excellence in IT / BIS: Janika Komalram
The Tilbury Power Station Award for Excellence in Geography: Matthew Smith
The Thurrock Local History Society Award: Stephanie Adams
The Governors Award for Drama: Bobbi Burkey
The Grays Thurrock Rotary Club Award for Media Studies: James Lee
The Grays School Award for Excellence in Music: Charlotte O’Neill
The David Llewellyn Award for Excellence in Performing Arts: Jacob Ruddock
The Thames Board Trophy for the Best Trident Performance: Katrina Knights
The Governors Award for Citizenship: Charlotte Everett
The Governors Award for Sociology: Rochelle Dyas
The Governors Award for Religious Studies: Jess Morrison
The Les Cox Memorial Award: Charlotte Bailes
Attwood & Co Award for Outstanding Academic Achievement: Aderike Elegbede
Award for Services to the School: Chelsea Massarella