ENGINEERING and design and technology students at Alton College have been presented with awards for excellence.

David Forrest, the owner of FB Design, a bespoke furniture and cabinet making company based in Herriard, set up a prize for the best year two design and technology project.

Mr Forrest previously taught in Alton and wanted to reward excellence in design and technology. The £250 prize, awarded for quality of design and attention to detail in the practical work, has been jointly won this year by Toby Goldsmith, previously at Eggar’s School, and Arun Matharu, previously of Amery Hill School.

Toby’s project was an oriental-inspired bench in limed oak and Arun’s project was a scaled outbuilding and interactive display stand.

The engineering department has once again presented talented students with The Mason Memorial Prize. For 15 years, ending in 2000, Peter Mason visited Alton College on a regular basis to help, advise and encourage engineering and design and technology students as they completed coursework projects. His extensive experience in the world of engineering was invaluable to the students who were privileged to work alongside him.

When Mr Mason died, his daughter, Christine Westcott, set up and kindly funded The Mason Memorial Prize, which is awarded annually to the engineering or design and technology student whose project best meets set criteria – a project that is technically challenging, the application of good design principals, high-quality manufacturing skills, effective planning throughout the project, and a project which shows innovation.

Mrs Westcott came into college and spent time viewing the projects and discussing them with the students from the BTEC Level 3 diploma in engineering course. She said she was impressed with the high standard of design and creativity that the students had shown in their work this year.

But the prize was awarded to James Bell, previously at Robert May’s School in Odiham, for his iPhone charger.

The runner-up prize went to Josh Lawrence, previously at More House School, for his telephone line mouse stopper.