AN art and design student who suffered a brain injury shortly after taking her GCSEs has been honoured for her progress since returning to education.

Emily Newhouse, 19, from Littlehampton won the the Principal’s Award at Greater Brighton Metropolitan College’s annual achievement ceremony.

Her condition left her with memory loss, crippling headaches, tiredness and needing to take a cocktail of medications.

The MET worked with Emily to provide an adapted timetable with additional learning support.

Tutor Lucy Grout described her work as ‘thoughtful, mature and visually stunning work - always with such pride.’ Principal Sharon Collett, said: “I believe it is important to pause and reflect on the achievements of our amazing students who really deserve recognition in front of their families and teachers.

“Choosing one overall winner from all the nominations that we had was incredibly difficult as there are so many students who shine for different reasons.

“Emily is thoroughly deserving of my Principal’s Choice award and we celebrate her achievement this evening.”

Students across Greater Brighton Metropolitan College’s five campuses were celebrated at the ceremony.

Heart Breakfast presenter Nicola Hume was the host and with college CEO Nick Juba and Principal Sharon Collett presented certificates and trophies.

Many were honoured for their outstanding achievement in the face of adversity and there were several moving stories throughout the evening.

Benedicte Deutsch won the Commitment to Learning award after returning to education at the age of 52, having worked in the travel and tourism industry all her life.

She has become a mentor and confidant to many of the younger students and is a role model.

Boxer Tyrieq Campbell was the winner of the Extraordinary Dedication category.

He travels to Brighton daily from Croydon, training with the college then returning to Bethnal Green to train with his club in the evening.

He won the national junior championships earlier in the season and studies on the BTEC Sport course.

James Webb was runner-up for the Inspiration to Others category.

A college spokesman said: “ This student is sincere, polite and dedicated.

“When he started at the college two years ago, he was very shy and found it difficult to engage with the other students.

“His mother is confined to a wheelchair and he is her principal carer despite being a teenager.

“It is a huge responsibility for someone at his stage in life.

“This student has progressed significantly as an artist this year.”

The art and design fashion students were named Class of the Year.

During a key stage of the Foundation Course, they were asked by The Pines Nursing Home in Hove to put on a Catwalk Fashion Show.

A college spokesman said: “With very little time to prepare, they rose to the challenge of modelling their own clothes down the catwalk.”

Full list of runners-up and winners: Contribution to the Community: Winner: Leanna Edwards Runner up: Paige Smith

Diversity Champion: Winner: Clare Mason-Jones Runners up: Deaf learners Gabriel Decolongon, Alice McCann, Wesley Thomas, Rachel Jordan, Ben Ramshaw and Jack Fowler.

Employers’ Choice: Winner: Aaron Feldberg and Will Peters Runner up:

Ryan Bartlett Inspiration to others: Winner: Aidan Maule Runner up: James Webb

Class of the Year: Winner: Art and Design Fashion Runner up:

Level 3 Beauty Exceptional Achievement: Winner: Marcus Barnes Runner up:

Shalom Nuhu Brighten Up The Day: Winner: Karun Gohler Runner up: Kyla Fitzgerald

Commitment to Learning: Winner: Benedicte Deutsch Runner up: Karen Jeffery

Extraordinary Dedication: Winner Tyrieq Campbell Runner up: Wutthichai Saomok.