Loughborough College student Matthew Chilvers has been announced as a winner at the 2020 British Education Awards.
The 22 year old, who is studying for a BA (Hons) in Sport Management with Loughborough College, joined finalists from England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland for a glittering black tie ceremony at the Hilton Deansgate in Manchester, and was declared a Vocational category winner in recognition of his academic achievements .
“When I was called onto the stage with the other two finalists, I felt a bit nervous but mostly very proud that people thought I deserved to be there for my academic work. But when they announced I had won, I couldn’t believe it. They handed me a trophy and I was in shock.
“I am grateful to Loughborough College, they have helped me an awful lot, and I was so happy my mum and dad were there at the Awards to share the moment with me.”
Loughborough College CEO John Doherty added: “We are so pleased for Matthew and congratulate him wholeheartedly on being named as a winner at the British Education Awards. He has excelled academically and is truly inspirational, there is no doubt the recognition is deserved. The team who support Matthew and the College as a whole are extremely proud of his achievements."
Matthew, who has an autistic spectrum disorder, joined Loughborough College in 2013, going on to achieve NVQ Level 2 in Activity Leadership and a level 3 diploma in Coaching and Supporting Physical Education before achieving double distinction star for his BTEC level 3 diploma in Sport and Exercise Fitness, and going on to study Sport and Leisure Management at degree level with the College.
Matthew is also a Special Olympian in tennis and a qualified tennis coach who volunteers with pupils including children and young people with autism and players affected by cancer, as well as groups of older people with sight impairments, who are recovering from surgery and who have dementia. He is a BBC Sport Personality of the Year Unsung Hero winner for the region and recently received The Diana award, in honour of Princess Diana, at the House of Lords for changing the perception of disability sport. He has been included on The Guardian’s first ever Learning Disability and Autism Leaders list and was invited by The Sport and Recreation Alliance to join their Youth Advisory Panel, which has led to him speaking to MPs in the Houses of Parliament about increasing young people’s involvement in activity as well as some of the barriers that young people with disabilities face.
Pictured: Loughborough College student Matthew Chilvers after being announced as a winner at the British Education Awards 2020