STUDENTS at Okehampton College were treated to a special guest presentation recently as the school launched its brand new alumni project.

Dominic Wooldridge, 22, a former student of Okehampton College, delivered a presentation to Year 12 students on September 9 at the Year 12 Induction Day.

Having signed up to the school’s alumni online portal in the summer, Dominic responded to an email request via the portal for an inspiring former student of Okehampton College to speak to current Year 12 students who are just beginning their post-16 educational journey.

Dominic, a Peninsula Medical Student at Exeter University, attended Okehampton College four years ago, achieving straight A grades at A Level.  He told the students that teachers weren’t ‘lying’ about the difficulties of embarking on sixth form studies, and he advised current students to ‘balance social time with study time outside of lessons’. 

He also shared with them slides of a potential medical placement at an esteemed hospital in Australia, along with future opportunity of a placement with Australia’s flying doctors. He told students at the college that just because you went to a comprehensive school, that didn’t mean you had to limit your ambitions or goals.

Current students Jacob Jones, 16, and Craig Penberthy, 17, described the presentation as ‘inspiring’ and ‘motivational’. Jacob said that because Dominic had been in the same position as him, it made him realise that ‘you can go anywhere’.

Dominic’s presentation was the first of many alumni events which will be held at the college. 

The school has requested that previous Okehampton College students, who wish to keep in touch and hear the latest news and events, join the college’s Alumni project.

Becoming an Okehampton College Alumni will enable former pupils to become involved in the teaching school, volunteer and support current students during special events, provide a work experience placement, write articles or take pictures for the alumni newsletter and help with fundraising.

In order to be an alumni you don’t have to have achieved academically, you just have to be a former student. Sign up to the free project and help advise the students about life after college.

To find out more about the alumni project, contact the college on 01837 650910, or email [email protected]