HCC 2012 Basketball Challenge

To acknowledge and celebrate Olympics Week this week, the fabulous HCC basketball players set themselves a huge task of shooting 2012 hoops.

Both the men and women from the HCC basketball academy took to the courts today in SPACe determined to score a record number of baskets and put on a great show at the same time. And didn’t they just!

They showed off their extraordinary talent and athleticism while working up a sweat to meet their target.

The amazing spectacle was watched and cheered on by students and staff. Veronika Karailieva (pictured in the centre with the players) from the Big Lottery Fund, who sponsors HCCs sports academies, also popped along to watch the impressive display.

Well done guys!!

HCC also runs successful academies for athletics, cricket and football, along with basketball. For more information please call 020 7613 9123 or visit us at http://www.hackney.ac.uk/

Cooking up a career

Michael Bines shows that it’s never too late to get qualified for a new career.

Michael, aged 44, studies Professional Cookery at HCC’s London City Hospitality Centre and is en route to becoming a qualified chef after shedding a past life of gangs and petty crime.

Wanting to turn his life around, he joined Hackney Community College where he successfully completed levels 1 and 2 in Food Preparation and Cooking in impressive time. He is now on the final stage of his course and is well on track to achieving his qualified chef status.

We're confident he'll achieve his dream of setting up his own Caribbean restaurant.

Michael said: “This is the first time I have achieved something. I am now on my way to being a qualified chef and I must thank Hackney Community College and most of all, my tutor Christopher Skippers for giving me the chance to prove myself.”

His inspirational story has deservedly been put forward for an Outstanding Learner award, where the winners will be announced during Adult Learners Week in May.

Good luck Michael!

I cooked. I served. I washed up!

I had the privilege of studying alongside some of Hackney Community College’s entry level students. I can honestly say, it was one of the most enjoyable things I’ve done since I joined the College three years ago.

Their spirit and determination to succeed really shone through; and their happiness was infectious!

We prepared a delicious beef and vegetable chow mein, which we then served to paying members of staff.

Unfortunately, being the new boy, I got lumbered washing up the dirty pots– so I didn’t actually get to taste our creation - but I’m told it was very good!

I was really impressed with what our students achieved, with a little help from the experts!

Ian Ashman, Principal - Hackney Community College