The day saw an army of friends and family gather at Hartpury to witness the presentations, made by heads of department. Guests were addressed by Professor Andy Collop - Vice-Chancellor, Principal and CEO of Hartpury, Edward Keene - Chair of Governors, and Guest of Honour Lewis Ludlow - a former Hartpury student and now captain of the Gloucester Rugby team.

Speeches from both Andy and Edward reflected on Hartpury’s past, present and future, acknowledging that the institution is celebrating its 75th anniversary this summer.

Claire Whitworth, Deputy Principal at Hartpury College said: “Prize Day is always a happy day of celebration and it’s always a great privilege to join friends and family to celebrate the many achievements of our students. 

“As well as recognising all students individually for completing their specific course, several students were also in receipt of endeavour, outstanding academic achievement, outstanding progress and outstanding athlete awards to name but a few. Thank you to the sponsors who supported these awards.

“As always, our students seemed to enjoy their day and we wish them the very best of luck for their future, whether that’s returning to Hartpury University, university elsewhere or into the world of work.”

Prof Andy Collop added: “What a great honour for me to preside over my first College Prize Day at Hartpury. Days like these will stay long in the memory of the students and their families, and they’ve added their own chapter to Hartpury’s rich history in this landmark year.

“I’d like to thank all of those who attended for making the day so joyous. In particular, I want to thank Lewis Ludlow for his speech that will no doubt have resonated with many. He’s a superb success story of Hartpury College and I’m sure he’ll inspire another generation of Hartpury alum to follow in his footsteps.”

Hartpury College boasts a number of accolades, making it a leading choice for students wishing to study agriculture, animal, sport, equine and A-levels, as well as Uniformed Protective Services and Access to HE. 98% of students move into employment, university or further study, highlighting how well prepared they are for life after Hartpury. 

The institution is rated ‘Ofsted Outstanding in all areas’ for academic and curriculum-related provision, with an A-level pass rate of 99.5%.