Pembrokeshire student goes to Senedd – Joyce’s second chance bursary winner meets minister

A Cardigan student has met the Welsh Assembly Member who gave her a bursary in the Senedd in Cardiff Bay.
Hannah Jones won a £550 bursary from local Assembly Member Joyce Watson for students who return to learning.
20 year old Hannah Jones is using the bursary to purchase books and software for her computer. Hannah has lived on Cardigan’s Maes Glas Estate, where Joyce also lived while growing up.
Joyce Watson AM says: “Hannah is an excellent student, who has shown her commitment to her own future success. She has consistently received distinctions for her work. She combined the 60 mile round journey to the college each day from Cardigan with part time shop work and caring responsibilities.
“Hannah is a great role model for other students and I am delighted that she has already accepted a place at Swansea University to study psychology. I wish her well in her future career.
Hannah was accompanied on her visit on Tuesday (3 July) by Pembrokeshire College lecturer, Kate Hawkins. They took a tour of the Assembly building and sat in the gallery for First Minister’s question time. Hannah also met Education Minister, Leighton Andrews AM, and the Presiding Officer, Rosemary Butler AM.
This is the fifth annual Joyce Watson Scholarship, which was launched in 2007 to assist mature students studying a full-time Further Education course at Pembrokeshire College.
This year for the first time there were two bursaries, one for a male and one for a female student, to assist towards a laptop, fees, transportation, childcare or other expenditure to help the student complete studies.
23 year old Robert Krelle of Haverfordwest also won £550.
The annual bursary is open to anyone over 19 who has started a course at the College.
Haverfordwest-based Joyce was inspired to fund the bursary by her own experience of learning at the college while bringing up a young family. Joyce launched the bursary when she was elected as Assembly Member for Mid and West Wales in 2007.
She said: “Pembrokeshire College made a huge difference to my life, encouraging me to get qualifications.
“It gave me a second chance at education, and I want to help others to do the same.”
Pembrokeshire College’s Director of Learner Services Maxine Thomas said:
“The college is extremely grateful to Joyce for providing the bursary. Many of our students face financial difficulties during the course of their study and the bursary makes a real difference to their lives and to the completion of their studies without financial worries.”
Robert Krelle of Haverfordwest also won a £550 bursary, and will be meeting Joyce at the College shortly. He is doing NVQ PEO Boatbuilding and wants to be a boat builder.
Laura Watts, then aged 24, from Haverfordwest, won the first bursary in 2007, achieving three As at A-level, then went on to study social anthropology at the London School of Economics.
In 2008, Amie Grover, a Fishguard mum of three, won the award, and the following year she won it again, to complete her Open College Network plumbing course.
Last year 22 year old Haverfordwest mum Megan George won the bursary to help her gain her NVQ 2 Diploma in Women’s Hairdressing. Over 120 students applied for the bursary.
Shortlisted candidates were interviewed by a panel, including Joyce and Maxine Thomas, the college’s Director of Learning Services.