How computer games proved just the job; TECHNOLOGY ACHIEVEMENT

Evening Chronicle (Newcastle, England), Dec 5, 2007

WINNER: Steven Graham

A CHILDHOOD playing computer games is starting to pay off for Steven Graham as he's planning on turning his hobby into a career.

This summer, the 20-year-old from Low Fell, Gateshead, completed a foundation degree in the development of IT applications for business, which saw him designing a website from scratch for North East company, Rugs Direct UK.

Over a six-month period, Steven designed a data-driven website to showcase the busi-ness's products. The finished version even allows visitors to customise their pages so they are user-friendly.

To achieve this, Steven has had to overcome the barrier of having dyslexia. He experienced difficulty throughout school, but he feels that a combination of hard work, determination and support from Gateshead College has helped him.

Steven was nominated by college lecturer, Adonis Walmsley-McCarthy, who said: "Steven has proved very successfully that being dyslexic is not a barrier to achieving your ambitions. This is a particular achievement in the area of website programming where a simple mistake can render a website useless.

"He is a quiet, hard working student who applies himself well and this has been reflected in the project he put together during his studies. Added to this is the fact Steven is a pleasant and polite student who will achieve his ambition of putting his skills to use by working in web development."

He added: "Steven is now actively pursuing his ambition of finding permanent employment in web development."

Engineering a career

RUNNER UP: Matthew Benning

AFTER reading Matthew Benning's CV, it's a struggle to see how he finds the time to study for his PhD at Newcastle University.

The 23-year-old from Otterburn Villas South, Newcastle, is a scout leader, a qualified climbing instructor and a trained scuba diving instructor. He's completed his Duke of Edinburgh awards, raised thousands of pounds after a bike ride from Lands' End to John O'Groats and his hobbies include canoeing, sailing, martial arts, ski diving, caving and running - to name but a few.

Academically, he has achieved a degree in engineering and is currently excelling on his digital manufacturing course.

His biggest achievement, however, has been a much more personal one; breaking down the barriers caused by dyslexia and other people's assumptions.

Matthew said: "Being severely dyslexic, I have struggled with many academic subjects, but what affected me most was the notable lack of expectation people have always had in me.

"People have seen me struggle with English, grammar and language and have never pushed me as they did not believe I could do any better. I was referred to as lazy.

"However, I have overcome the prejudice and stigma by using my engineering talent to prove myself.

"My ambition in the short term is to finish my PhD.

"My lifelong ambition is to be at the helm of an innovative engineering company and to pass on my enthusiasm for engineering to anyone who is interested."

A credit to his art

RUNNER UP: Michael Bailey

MICHAEL Bailey is a name to look out for in rolling film credits in the future.

He may never be the star on the screen, but he'll be one of the hidden talents working tirelessly behind the scenes.

The 18-year-old from Prudhoe, Northumberland, is a gifted set designer and has already helped to produce a number of animated films alongside his classmate and friend, Gary Carse, who has been shortlisted for the art category.

His projects include creating the logo for a new block at his school, Prudhoe Community High, and mak-ing a video for a professional recording artist and another for a national arts organisation.

One of his creations impressed the judges at this year's MTV BOOM! Awards, which challenges students, aged 11 to 18, to create videos for pop songs.

To continue to develop his work, Michael set up an animation company with Gary called Batt and Ball and their work can be viewed on the video sharing network, YouTube.

Michael said: "In my leisure time, I enjoy creating graphics and all the work that goes into running our company. I am still trying to find the right university course, but I want to work in design and media, or film.

"I'd also like to keep making sets for the animated films we produce as a company and see how far this can take us."

He was nominated by his teacher, Tim Smith, who said: "The level of skill and attention to detail is really quite exceptional and, so far, all of the projects have been in Michael's own time."

young achiever awards 2007

Phil Green, Principal of Tyne Metropolitan college says: We believe that young people's achievements should be recognised and rewarded, and that they and we should celebrate their success

CAPTION(S):

AMBITIONS: Steven Graham has overcome his dyslexia; OVERCOMING STIGMA: Matthew Benning; ENTHUSIASM: Michael Bailey set up an animation company