The prestigious awards, held in partnership with the Coldstream Guards, 17 Company, celebrate young people who have gone above and beyond in their schools and communities.
Eight exceptional secondary school students in Hammersmith & Fulham have been recognised for their resilience, academic excellence, and sporting achievements at the annual Coldstream Guards Awards. The prestigious awards, held in partnership with the Coldstream Guards, 17 Company, celebrate young people who have gone above and beyond in their schools and communities.
The awards ceremony took place on Thursday, 20 March, honouring students nominated by their teachers and school staff. Awards were presented in the categories of Overcoming Adversity, Academic Achievement, Sporting Achievement, and the Mayor’s Special Award.
Mayor’s Special Award
This year’s Mayor’s Special Award went to Trinity Patterson and Mohammad Malekzadeh for their outstanding personal growth and perseverance.
Trinity, a student at Fulham Cross Girls’ School, was recognised for her commitment to education despite facing personal challenges. In addition to excelling in school, she has been an active volunteer at open evenings and will be travelling to Malawi this summer on a charity mission.
“It’s amazing to see her go from strength to strength with her attitude to education and to receive recognition for the empowered, thoughtful, inquisitive, hardworking student she is,” said Head of Year 10 Abigail Flynn.
Reflecting on her award, Trinity said, “I won the award for my progress in school and how far I’ve come. Recently, I’ve been enjoying school a lot more, especially my science and English classes – particularly Chemistry.”
Mohammad’s journey has been one of remarkable perseverance. Arriving in the UK as a refugee at 15 with little English, he has since achieved a grade 8 in Science and a C in his English as a Second Language GCSE. Now studying Biology, Chemistry, and Mathematics at A-level, he is preparing to interview for medical school. As a care leaver, he continues to excel academically without family support while adapting to life in a new country.
Sporting Achievement
Luis Munioz and Brenda Manic were recognised for their sporting excellence.
Luis, who has been dedicated to his school and under-13s football team, has now secured a place with Arsenal’s under-14s squad. His commitment and skill have set him on an exciting path in football.
Brenda, an accomplished Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu fighter, recently earned third place in the World Cup for the sport. With an impressive collection of eight gold, two silver, and two bronze medals, she continues to compete at a professional level while excelling in her studies.
Academic Achievement
The Academic Achievement award was presented to Hannah Nakitto and Simeon Allcock for their outstanding performance in school.
Hannah, a student at William Morris Sixth Form, has consistently achieved top grades while supporting her peers in their studies.
“She is an exceptional yet humble student, and I could have nominated her under any of the award categories,” said Associate Vice Principal Donna Tillotson.
Simeon, from Fulham Boys School, was recognised for his remarkable GCSE results. Achieving ten grade 9s, he now runs workshops for Year 11 students aiming for the highest grades.
Overcoming Adversity
Arta Moghaddasi Esfevashi and Gurpreet Singh Bindra were celebrated for their resilience in the face of personal and educational challenges.
Arta, who sought asylum in the UK with his family in 2022, has remained dedicated to his education. Despite facing uncertainty, he is on track to achieve A* grades in Physics and Maths and A grades in Chemistry and Further Maths at A-level.
Gurpreet, who moved to the UK in 2022, spent nearly two years living in hotels with his family. Despite the instability of moving frequently, he remained committed to his studies and is predicted to achieve A* grades in Physics and Maths and an A in Further Maths and Economics. He has applied to university to study Computer Science.
The Coldstream Guards Awards continue to shine a light on young people who demonstrate resilience, excellence, and commitment, proving that determination can lead to success regardless of life’s challenges.
