A BURNHAM-on-Sea graduate is in the running to win a prestigious national education award.

Henry Green, a graduate of the University Centre Weston (UCW) and Weston College, has been selected as a finalist for the Association of Colleges (AoC) Higher Education Student of the Year Award.

Henry, from Burnham-on-Sea, completed a BTEC Extended Diploma in Travel and Tourism at Weston College before progressing to a Foundation degree in Tourism Management and Top-up degree in Business Management with Sustainability at UCW.

The 22-year-old, who suffers from autism, graduated this summer with an upper second class (2:1) honours degree having impressed his lecturers throughout his time at Weston College and UCW.

Henry took part in a number of work placements as part of his studies, including at Weston’s Helicopter Museum, and has written articles about autism for a number of publications.

He said: “Getting through uni has been a very positive experience overall and something that I did not believe I would be able to do.

“I have been very lucky to be surrounded by the right people who have helped me along the way, and I hope achieving my degree encourages other people with disabilities that they can too.

“It hasn’t been an easy journey, so being considered for an award at the end of it is a welcome surprise.”

During his time at the university Henry discussed how to support students on the autism spectrum during staff development sessions, and even took the time to speak to students on UCW’s Inclusive Practice degree about how they too could develop their professional practice.

Dr Paul Phillips CBE, principal and chief Executive of the Weston College Group, said: “Henry is a humble young man who does not appreciate how inspiring he is to those around him.

“He won a UCW Faculty Student of the Year award last year and we will all be keeping our fingers crossed that he wins this AoC prize as well.

“He is a wonderful example of someone who has met the challenges of life head on and would be a very worthy winner.”