JPMA announces Student Star Award winners 2018

John Percival Marine Associates (JPMA) has announced the winners of its 2018 Student Star Awards. The UK RYA and MCA crew-training centre awards celebrate students that have demonstrated commitment and dedication to their studies, regardless of the outcome. 

Having asked its instructors to nominate their deserving students from the previous year, the final nominees came down to one Deck student and one Engineering student, who both showed an unwavering commitment to their studies and a determination to achieve their goals.

Deck student Oscar Morales was chosen by instructors to receive a Student Star Award after completing several courses at JPMA. 

JPMA’s Deck instructors said, “Oscar is a great student who worked hard towards passing his Master modules and Master <500gt oral. English is not his first language, so he endeavoured to learn standard maritime vocabulary to ensure he did not say the wrong thing. We are very glad to hear he has done so well, he deserves his success.”

Upon hearing the news, Oscar said,  “Since day one, JPMA have treated me like another family member, which is the reason why I decided to do my modules and oral preparation there, as well as how much knowledge the instructors have. Every course I have done with JPMA was beyond my expectations and not only helped me to pass exams, but to progress in my career. A big thank you to the team!”

Engineering student Mike Sweeney was also chosen by instructors to receive a Student Star Award for the way he applied himself to his studies.

Mike began training at JPMA with his Y4 courses in 2011 and progressed to his Y2 modules by 2018.

JPMA’s Engineering instructors said, “Mike was a conscientious student who was always well prepared for his courses. Learning seemed to come naturally to him but, nevertheless, he put the work into all his courses and exams, with impressive results. Mike was diligent and a pleasure to have in the building.”

Sadly, this award has been made posthumously, as Mike passed earlier this year.

Mike’s wife Jules commented on the award, “I would like to thank you so very much for bestowing this award upon Mick. He was without a doubt the biggest knowledge sponge I have ever known and I am so very proud of his determination to succeed in all he did.

“Mick had a passion for engineering and he had such a plan to attain his next ticket - and without doubt the one after that too! If he was alive today he would be over the moon to have achieved this.”

Voting has already begun for nominees for the 2019 Student Star Awards.

For more information, visit John Percival Marine Associates. Sign up to our newsletter to get the best of Yachting Pages delivered direct to your inbox every month.