Loughborough College has congratulated students Grace Fleming, Chloe Fountain and Harrison Grossman who have all been named as finalists in the Leicester Mercury Education Awards 2018.
Chloe and Harrison have each been shortlisted for the Apprentice of the Year title while Grace Fleming is in line for the Student of the Year accolade.
Grace, who studies Sport and Exercise Science with Loughborough College, was nominated by her best friend with a moving tribute to her courage and determination during the final year of her GCSE studies, following her mum Sophie’s cancer diagnosis
As Sophie underwent months of chemotherapy, Grace worked hard on her seven subjects, determined her mum would be reassured by her staying focused. “I was so sad but that didn’t mean I had to make everyone else sad. I tried not to think about it or talk to my friends about it and to carry on as normal.”
Following treatment, signs were looking positive and the family went away on holiday. But with only days to go before Grace’s first exam, Sophie found another lump and was hospitalized soon after as her condition rapidly deteriorated.
“I did get overwhelmed at one point and cried in front of my friend but mostly I just kept going by making a schedule and packing my revision and exams into the day so I could spend as much time as possible every evening with my mum.”
Sophie had hoped to share results day with her daughter but sadly passed away in July, before Grace discovered she had passed all her GCSEs.
“I am trying to get on with things so it helps to be studying sport, which I am really passionate about, and I am excited to be at Loughborough College. I’m also continuing to train in gymnastics, which I’ve done since I was really young – and now I am teaching it too.
“I was shocked to hear I had been nominated for the Leicester Mercury Education Awards. When I read what my best friend had written, I was overwhelmed, it was so nice.”
Grace, 16, will be attending the awards ceremony in December with her dad Stephen. “I am amazed to be a finalist. Part of me still feels as if they must have the wrong person but I am very happy. “
Pictured: Leicester Mercury Education Awards 2018 Student of the Year finalist, Loughborough College’s Grace Fleming – on a family holiday with mum Sophie last Christmas