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Derby College for Deaf People
Presentation Day - November 2002
Our fifth annual Presentation Day took place on Saturday 4th of November at The Spot, Derby.

The Certificates and Trophies were presented by Avril Langard. Avril is an ex Derby College for Deaf student who successfully completed an Art and Design degree course. She now runs her own graphic design business, Attic Design Studios, with her sister Ruth, also an ex student. Avril talked about her time at Derby College and how things had progressed since she had left. She gave an inspirational talk about gaining confidence and pursuing her aim of starting her own business. The students watching her talk could not help but see that working hard and not giving up is the way to realise your aims in life whatever barriers one has to face.

Our other speaker was James McLean, another ex Derby College student who has just returned from a Gap Year at a deaf school in Jordan. He gave an emotional speech about the time he spent teaching and helping there. He explained how far behind the School for the Deaf is compared to Britain and the lack of resources available.

He also spoke about his travels to Egypt and other parts of the Middle East, the people he met and again the lack of resources available there. He encountered some hostilities after the September 11th terrorist attack on the World Trade Centre in New York but kept his nerve until it all died down. James is now a Media student at the University of Central Lancashire.

Guy Orlov only arrived in this country in July 2001. He had very little knowledge of BSL but quickly learnt and accessed the information to understand his course . It became obvious that he was capable of doing something special and so it proved. He has progressed onto BTEC First IT course and if he continues to work hard he should make further progress.

Zoe Jolley has enjoyed living in at college. She has made a great contribution to organising community activities on campus, especially in the sports hall. She has found it more difficult settling onto her college course but she is still attending and trying hard.

Thomas Arthan has an artistic talent that he has spotted as something special. He always attends his course despite the fact that he has great difficulty with the written word.

Well done to everyone who achieved a certificate for the last academic year.