Hard work earns prize for student (From Penarth Times)

Hard work earns prize for student

A STUDENT from Penarth has won a prestigious Engineering Leadership Award from the Royal Academy of Engineering.

The award is worth up to £7,500.

Joel Evans is a student at Magdalen College, Oxford studying Engineering Science. He has won the Welsh Clubs Hockey Cup with Cardiff Hockey Club and been capped by Wales for hockey at U21 and senior levels.

He has gone on to gain two Blues at Oxford.

Joel hopes that the Engineering Leadership Award will be the springboard to future success in engineering.

He said: "I'm delighted to have received an Engineering Leadership Award from the Royal Academy of Engineering.

"This is a great opportunity for me and gives me even more chances to forge a successful career in engineering.

"After graduation I'd like to use my knowledge to make a positive contribution to society."

The awards have been organised by the Royal Academy of Engineering each year since 1996, and aim to accelerate each winner's personal and professional development - preparing them for a fast-track career in UK industry.

Joel is one of just 21 winners this year from more than 120 who applied for the award from throughout the UK - and one of an elite group of less than 300 winners since the Engineering Leadership Awards began.

Joel will now receive a cheque for £500 at the start of each academic year during the next three years.

He can also request additional funds for proposals - for a placement for example - and the funds available will increase over time from £1,000 in the first year to as much as £3,000 in the third year of the award.

But the award isn't just about money.

The Academy also organises an annual training and social weekend at which all the award holders from the different year groups are brought together for valuable networking. Joel will now be required to draft a personal development plan outlining how he hopes to make the most of the opportunity.

Next year's awards will be open for entries from 2006 with more information available at the website www.engineeringleadershipawards.org.uk