Students are winning team in trophy design (From Oxford Mail)

Students are winning team in trophy design

3:00pm Friday 17th February 2012 in Abingdon

YOUNGSTERS have helped design the winner’s trophy for a prestigious business awards in West Oxfordshire.

The trophy was imagined by Abingdon and Witney College students and then created by Witney-based artist Steve Fletcher.

The 23 art and design students, who started the project during their induction week in September, got to see the finished piece for the first time last week.

As part of the project they had to create the design and then pitch it to a panel of judges, much like contestants on BBC show Dragons’ Den.

Mike Hawken, 17, who created the winning design, said: “It was a little doodle that came out of my head. I was quite surprised it won.

“The finished award is quite beautiful and I really like the way the white and gold contrasts.”

Sarah Hitchman, 17, said: “It was nice working on the project together and the final outcome is amazing.”

Mr Fletcher, who runs a Witney-based clock repair shop, said: “It was a really interesting project to work on.

“All the students were brand new to the college and were thrown in at the deep end, but they came through with some fantastic designs.”

The trophy will be presented to the overall winner of the West Oxfordshire Business Awards at Heythrop Park Resort on March 16.