THE Argus 2018 Youth in Action awards took place yesterday afternoon in celebration of the achievements of our very best young people.

It was a fantastic event, with 150 guests spending the afternoon with us as we recognised schoolchildren and apprentices for their sporting, musical and academic successes.

Students from all over Sussex picked up their awards at the Hilton Brighton Metropole, having been nominated by their schools and selected as winners by The Argus.

For the past two months we have been taking nominations from across the county.

Entertainment came from the Brighton-based three-piece rock and pop function band Technicolour.

The winner of Pupil of the Year, sponsored by Hove College and presented by its principal Jeff Taylor, was Eric Wyrzycki.

Sports Person of the Year, sponsored by Tilleys Stonemasons and presented by Jeremy Tilley, was Lewis Hammons.

Brighton Boys Under 13s were named as Sports Group of the Year, sponsored by Jefferies Funeral Directors and presented by Simon Jefferies.

The award for Charity Achievement of the Year, sponsored by Legal and General and sponsored by Lucy Pearce, went to Milo Mergler, Liam Staras and Joshua Osbourne.

Joshua Gumbrell won Academic Achievement of the Year, sponsored by St John’s School and College and presented by principal Simon Charleton.

The i360 sponsored the Innovator of the Year award, which went to Jude Birch.

Head of sales and marketing at the i360 Lena Koskela presented the award.

St Mary’s Sign Language Choir took home the Musical Achievement of the Year, sponsored by AVT Connect and presented by Nadine Wray.

The Contribution to Arts and Culture award, sponsored by BIMM and presented by BIMM’s head of student services Angelique Sabine, went to Alex Ridley.

Charlotte Fox was crowned Heroine of the Year, which was sponsored by Autoscreen Network in Portslade and presented by Lee Miller.

Chase Wells won the Plumpton College-sponsored Star of the Year award, which was presented by Chris Knell.

Jack Marriot was named Apprentice of the Year, an award sponsored by Greater Brighton MET and presented by apprenticeship team leader at the college Dawn Hale.

The Argus Appeal Special Award, presented by The Argus’s assistant news editor and business editor Peter Lindsey, went to Kacey Sturdy.

See Wednesday’s Argus for a four-page picture special on the awards.l