Our Student of the Year Prize Winner 2010

We were delighted to award our first ever Perfect Weddings Abroad Prize for Best Overall Travel and Tourism Student, at Newcastle Business School, Northumbria University.

Our inaugural winner was Jessica Starkey, and she was presented her prize of £200 from Perfect Weddings Abroad's Marketing Director, Danny Waine. Jessica had an exceptional year in the final year of her degree course at Newcastle Business School and was nominated for the prize by her University Lecturers.

Danny was delighted to offer the prize, he explained "This is the first time that we have had the opportunity to offer a prize for the best Travel and Tourism student. I remember back to when I was at University and really appreciated the companies that supported our course, with the prizes that they offered. So I am honoured to be involved with Newcastle Business School, Northumbria University. Jess is a real asset to NBS and I know from speaking to her lecturers she's done a great job over the last 12 months and is a deserved winner of our first ever prize. It's really inspired me, and we're hoping to offer the prize on an annual basis".

Jess was pleased to win the award and said "Being awarded the 'Best Overall BATTM Student' prize was a real honour. I have thoroughly enjoyed my time at Northumbria, not only studying TTM but also getting involved with some of the many events the university has to offer. Specifically I would like to thank the TTM lecturers Bridget, Jakki and Lavinia, and of course Danny Waine, a successful former TTM student, whose company Perfect Weddings Abroad sponsored the award".

(Pictured above - left to right: Kayleigh Cliffe (won the prize for Most Improved Travel and Tourism student) Kevin Duddy (won the prize for the Best Hospitality student), Lavinia Wilson-Youlden Programme Leader for BA (Hons) Travel & Tourism Management and BA (Hons) International Hospitality & Tourism, and Jessica Starkey (won the Perfect Weddings Abroad prize for Best Overall Travel & Tourism student).

Since winning the prize Jess has invested her prize of £200 towards interrailing around Europe. She said "it was something I had always wanted to do, so thought that it was a nice reward after completing my degree!" She visited many cities across Europe, and she's now hoping to get a travel-related job in the near future.

Good luck to Jess from everyone at Perfect Weddings Abroad!