Colin Jackson Set To Become Wrexham Glyndwr University Honorary Fellow

TV presenter and former Olympic silver medallist 110m hurdler Colin Jackson will collect an honorary degree from Wrexham Glyndwr University this week. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

Mr Jackson is being honoured for his Services to Sport following a glittering athletics career and subsequent work in the media, most notably for the BBC. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

An Olympic silver medallist in 1988, he went on to become a two-time world and Commonwealth champion and four-time European champion, having remained unbeaten in 44 races during 1993-1995. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

The 49-year-old said earlier this year he would be “thrilled” to collect the award at the William Aston Hall on Wednesday afternoon. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

Chwarae Teg Chief Executive Joy Kent will also be honoured by the university on Wednesday for her services in promoting the positive contribution of women to the Welsh economy. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

The charity exists to ensure that women in Wales can enter the workplace, develop their skills and build rewarding careers. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

Wrexham Glyndwr University is awarding honorary fellowships across six ceremonies at the institution this week. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

Thursday morning sees former National Eisteddfod Chair Prydwen Elfed-Owens, the first student to gain a Bachelor of Education degree through the medium of Welsh, collect an honorary degree for her services to education and the Welsh language. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

Two more fellowships will be awarded in the afternoon. Andrew Cheetham, a former student of Wrexham Glyndwr University’s predecessor Wrexham College of Art, is being honoured for his services to business. Andy became one of the most successful young art directors in the country after studying in Wrexham, later founding his own creative agency Cheetham Bell. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

Professor Graham Upton, interim Vice-Chancellor of Wrexham Glyndwr University from 2015-16, is being honoured for his services to the university. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

The final honorary fellowship will be awarded on Friday to Jon Earp, a former British Army pilot who now supports ex-servicemen and women through the charity Mission Motorsport. Jon is being honoured for his services to engineering. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

Wrexham Glyndwr University Vice-Chancellor Professor Maria Hinfelaar said: “I’m delighted we have such an esteemed group of Honorary Fellows to celebrate and am really looking forward to seeing our students reach the pinnacle of their journey with us.” ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

View a live stream of all 2016 graduation ceremonies and read about student success stories. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​