A TOP student has become one of a select group to be awarded a prestigious prize.

Matt Price is one of only 100 students in the UK to achieve the Institution of Engineering and Technology (IET) Diamond Jubilee Scholarship.

The 18-year-old from Eastbourne will now receive company mentoring and £1,000 for each year of his electronic engineering degree at Southampton University, after impressing judges at an interview and securing three A’s at A-Level.

The IET is one of the world’s largest engineering institutions and provides a million pounds every year in awards, prizes and scholarships to celebrate excellence and innovation in the sector and encourage the next generation of engineers and technicians.

Matt, who was former Ardingly College head boy, believes that his involvement in managing the Ardingly solar car project team that designed, built and raced a solar-powered electric vehicle across the Australian outback undoubtedly contributed to his success in winning this highly prized scholarship.

During the feat the Ardingly College team raced 3,000km from Darwin to Adelaide as part of the Bridgestone World Solar Challenge.

The race was a culmination of three years’ work by some 80 Ardingly College pupils aged 11 to 18.

Matt said: “Working on Ardingly Solar taught me so much, and inspired me even more, about STEM [science, technology, engineering and mathematics] and about leadership.

“Receiving this scholarship will enable me to build on that experience and develop so many new skills and opportunities.

“Apart from receiving £1,000 for each year of my degree, I will have hugely valuable access to development mentorship with senior BT managers, technical support from world-class engineers and researchers, opportunities for work placements and possibly even graduate programme entry. It is so exciting.”

Head of STEM at Ardingly College Dr Andrew Spiers said he was over the moon for Matt.

He said: “I can’t think of a more deserving candidate for the IET Diamond Jubilee Scholarship than Matt.

“I know he will seize this opportunity and will be a great STEM ambassador.”