Winner of the Access to HE Student Champion - Michelle Jacobs

Nominated by – Anne Clark, Course Leader from Redcar and Cleveland College - in recognition of her achievement on the course and on-going commitment to helping others to succeed.

Having successfully achieved a high standard on the OCN Pre Access Course, Michelle progressed to the Access to Higher Education Diploma in Social Science and Humanities. She came as a 21 year old single mother of a little boy.

In November her son became ill, but Michelle continued her studies working from home with support from the college staff. Despite this difficult start Michelle achieved very high standards in her work and then began to support and motivate other students who were finding the course challenging. She even put on revision sessions before assignments to help other students; this was collaborative learning at its best.

Michelle is now studying for her B.Sc. Psychology Honours Degree at Teesside University where she has impressed her tutors with her performance. Having won Access Student of the year at Redcar and Cleveland College – she serves as an ambassador for the College and OCN.

She has returned to Redcar and Cleveland as a college mentor supporting Access students at risk of withdrawing. This has had an impressive impact on retention rates. Michelle is now well on the way to becoming an Educational Psychologist. She is a fantastic ambassador for Access to HE as she encompasses the philosophy of widening participation for all to reach their full potential, which Michelle is doing.

Michelle is pictured receiving her award from Kath Dentith Head of Access at QAA.