Tawanda Chetse, from Zimbabwe, has been a pupil at Ardingly since 2004.
Now in Year 11, he represents West Sussex at Athletics and the College at cricket, football and hockey. He also plays football for the Independent Schools Football Association and has impressed both his peers and his teachers with his dancing and Kung Fu moves!
A total of 158 students, representing 36 nationalities, from 68 schools across the UK entered the three age group categories in the Hobsons International Boarder of the Year Awards and Tawanda, 15, was chosen as runner up in the Year 9-11 category.
Entrants were given the brief ‘Imagine your parents want you to leave your UK boarding school and return home; how would you persuade them to let you stay?.’
Tawanda’s letter to his mother highlighted his sporting achievements and explained how his schooling at Ardingly meant he may well be able to fulfil his dream of becoming a professional footballer.
He also told of the many friends he had made at Ardingly College – and those he had left behind in Zimbabwe – and said he did not wish to face the same feelings of loss and separation again. His emotive letter touched the hearts of judges in the Awards, now in their third year, which are designed to celebrate diversity in the UK boarding sector and highlight the immense contribution international boarders make to UK education.
Kevin Crook, Managing Director of Metropolis Business Publishing, which owns Hobsons, said: “These Awards look for overseas boarders who have made a real impact on their school community – academically, socially and in their extra-curricular pursuits. The calibre and variety of entries was outstanding and the skills of the judges were thoroughly tested.”
Winners were presented with their trophies at the the Hobsons annual marketing conference, at the Tower of London, by writer and broadcaster Libby Purves, before being given a tour of the Tower. A straight A student, Tawanda will shortly be taking his GCSE exams and plans to study the International Baccaluareate in the sixth form.
