26th September 2018
South Devon College is thrilled to announce that students Joel Stoddard-Turvey (Computing), Nikita Coombes (Art and Design) and Ben Baber-Hale (Computing) have won the ‘Young Innovator Award’ at the South West Digital Awards 2018.
Joel Stoddard-Turvey (left), Nikita Coombes and Ben Baber-Hale
The student’s first gained their nomination in May, after winning the Fujitsu Operation Innovation Award last year. The awarding panel were blown away by the ingenuity of the team in developing a forward-thinking project around solving real world problems through the creation of an Internet of Things (IoT) network.
Their product, ExPlus+ (Experience Plus), aims to support the learning of students with Autism Spectrum Condition (ASC). The team’s goals were to help bring light to the major learning issues ASC sufferers’ experience, such as the lack of specialised working environments and increasing resource costs.
The South West Digital Awards hold a unique focus on rewarding digital excellence across the South West region. Nominations often range from a large organisation’s latest hardware, to software developed by a single entrant. The official awards ceremony will be held on Thursday 27th September 2018, at the Plymouth School of Creative Arts. The awards are a chance to highlight, reward and encourage further digital innovation in the South West region.
Nikita Coombes with her award
The award-winning students are further proof of the emerging local talent within the digital sector, with the future launch of the South Devon College Hi-Tech Centre helping to discover even more innovative and creative skills.
The Centre will provide individuals with the skills that employers need to support their business growth in a range of important local hi-tech businesses such as; electronics, lasers, fibre, satellite and communications, aerospace, marine and medical. The offer will also extend to creative industries including gaming, app design, digital design, film and digital media, smart clothing and textiles and many others.
Steve Caunter, Assistant Principal Hi-Tech and Digital said, “I am thrilled with the achievements of this select group of highly gifted students. Their project really helped captivate the forward-thinking approach the College holds towards further development across the wider Hi-Tech learning sector. To see such innovative ideas being born out of the College gives further encouragement for our next generation of students”.
Steve Caunter (second from left), with Nikita Coombes (middle)
To find out more about wide variety of courses the College offers from apprenticeships to full-time courses or university degrees, visit our next Open Event on Saturday 6th October, 10am-1pm at the Vantage Point Campus, Long Road, Paignton, TQ4 7EJ. Alternatively, you can call our Helpzone team on 08000 380 123 or email [email protected]
For more information about this story please contact Guy Marsden, Marketing & Communications Officer at [email protected] or on 01803 540563.