Student Success Rewarded with Memorial Award
As Craven College gets ready to celebrate our Class of 25 with the annual Graduation Ceremony at Skipton Town Hall and Holy Trinity Church on 19 September, thoughts turn to a much-loved and missed colleague Alix Coughlin, who tragically passed away from cancer in October 2023.
The Alix Coughlin Award for Caring Professions is awarded to the student who fully engages with the course demonstrating a passion for the Early Years sector, in memory of Alix, who was instrumental in developing Craven College’s Foundation degree and BA honours degree in Children’s Learning and Development.
Alix’s passion, commitment, and thirst for new learning to enhance provision in the Early Years sector was evident in the curriculum she designed for Craven College. Alongside her work as a tutor, Alix was a published author, contributing a chapter to The Early Years Handbook for Students and Practitioners, which is an essential text for students.
Craven College received a very generous donation from Alix’s husband Greg, her children and family to set up the Alix Coughlin Bursary Trust Fund, which is used to support students studying Early Years courses across the College. Alix cared passionately about supporting students and often spoke of the difficult journeys students had when juggling families, financial pressures and study and this donation is intended to support future students continuing with Alix’s legacy.
Stephanie McKay, Head of Caring Professions said, “Alix was well known and highly respected in the schools and nurseries in our area and previous graduates who became managers and deputy managers sent their new staff to Craven College to be taught by Alix. There is no higher endorsement than this.
“Alix inspired, cared, mentored, listened, encouraged, advised, and nurtured every student to reach their potential. Her smile and warmth created a safe and enabling learning environment in the classroom and any time I walked in, the students were engaged, enthused and thoroughly present.”
Gillian Thom, Higher Education Manager added “Alix had a passion for Early Years education and a wealth of academic and vocational experience. She played a pivotal role in the writing and validation of the Young Children’s Learning and Development Degree and was a popular lecturer, supportive yet challenging students to achieve their best.”
Hannah Puente, Lecturer in Early Years who is graduating this September said, “Our cohort had the privilege – and the honour – of being the final group taught by Alix. She was not only an expert in early years education, but a passionate and gifted lecturer whose love for language development was infectious. Her knowledge, her care, and her ability to see potential in every one of us shaped our learning far beyond the classroom.
We are really proud to continue to honour Alix’s memory by working hard with all our students to provide the Early Years experts of the future.”
