Olympian Colin Jackson Among Fellows To Be Honoured By Wrexham Glyndwr

Welsh sporting legend Colin Jackson is among the honorary fellows to be celebrated by Wrexham Glyndwr University this autumn. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

The former 110 metres hurdles world record holder was nominated for Services to Sport and will appear at the north east Wales University on Wednesday, October 26. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

An Olympic silver medallist in 1988, Mr Jackson 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. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

Since hanging up his spikes he has carved out a successful career in the media and is currently in Rio covering the Olympic Games. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

He was also a runner-up on the hit TV show Strictly Come Dancing in 2005. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

The other Fellows to pick up prestigious awards at the institution’s Graduation ceremonies are: ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

Services to Engineering: Jon Earp, a former Army and Wales Air Ambulance pilot, and principal of Team Twp/Glyndwr Racing. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

Services to Education and the Welsh Language: Former teacher and education inspector Dr Prydwen Elfed-Owen, who was the first student in Wales to gain a Bachelor of Education in Welsh and through the medium of Welsh. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

Services to the Promotion of Women in the Welsh Economy: Chwarae Teg chief executive, Joy Kent. The organisation works with policy-makers and educators to produce and commission cutting edge research and manage and deliver projects that serve women, employers and educators throughout Wales. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

Services to Wrexham Glyndwr University: Professor Graham Upton, former interim Vice-Chancellor who enjoyed a distinguished academic career in special education. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

Services to Business: A former graphic design student at the North East Wales Institute, Andrew Cheetham founded Manchester creative ‘hot shop’ Cheetham Bell in the 1990s and went on to win national and global awards for advertising and design. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

The Fellowships will be conferred at the University’s Awards Ceremonies in October. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

Vice-Chancellor, Professor Maria Hinfelaar, said: “These are the first awards and Graduation ceremonies I will have been involved with here at Wrexham Glyndwr University. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

“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.” ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

She added: “For many this will be their final day at university as they go on to the next chapter in their lives. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

“We hope that we have played an important part in helping them on the path to their chosen careers, and though they will be leaving us they’ll always be a part of the Wrexham Glyndwr family.” ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

Experience Wrexham Glyndwr University first-hand by visiting the open day this Saturday (August 20), or on September 10 and October 15. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​