Rotary accolade for Mariam and T-Jay

AWARD-WINNERS . . . (from the left) Mariam Inayat (Oldham Student of the Year, 16-plus), Thomas Sheehy (runner-up, 16-plus), Mayor of Oldham Councillor John Hudson, Marouf Ahmed (runner-up, Year 7-11), T-Jay Turner (Student of the Year, Year 7-11), Derek Berryman (Rotary Club of Oldham president) and Mayoress Kathleen Hudson Award honour for students

SIXTEEN-year old Mariam Inayat and 14-year-old T-Jay Turner have been named Oldham Student of the Year at Wednesday’s yesterday’s 14th annual awards ceremony at Oldham’s Civic Centre.

Almost every high school and college in the borough nominated pupils for this year’s awards, which are organised by the Rotary Club of Oldham.

The awards acknowledge students who make a significant contribution to the community.

Founder of the awards, Rotary’s Ray Coverley, said: “There are a lot of young people in Oldham who achieve great things, not just academically but they give a lot back to their community. This is a great way of rewarding those people.”

Oldham Sixth Form College student Mariam picked-up the award for the 16-plus category for her wide-ranging roles in the community. The former Hathershaw School pupil is Oldham’s youth parliament representative and has attended events and spoken all over the country, including a debate at the House of Commons.

She said: “I have always strived to be a good role model.”

Royton and Crompton pupil T-Jay — winner in the junior category — is also a busy teenager as a member of Oldham Youth Council, a Dovestone Ranger, helping young people with additional needs at charity Barrier Breakers and as a mentor for younger pupils at his school.

He is the deputy member of the youth parliament for Oldham and represents the borough on both a local and national scale.

He said: “The ability to be a friend to someone who finds it hard to socialise, or listen to someone who is being bullied, is powerful beyond belief.”