A young sports student from Coleg Menai in Bangor has been awarded “the most prestigious accolade a young person can receive for their social action or humanitarian work,” much to the sheer delight of his tutors and peers.
Eban Geal from Brynsiencyn, Anglesey is currently studying the BTEC Sport (Coaching, Development and Fitness) course at the Coleg Menai Bangor campus, and works at the David Hughes Leisure Centre in Menai Bridge. He is a committed volunteer, and started giving up his spare time for others when still at school. Driven by his passion for sports, he has since completed over 300 hours of volunteering in various roles including sports coaching, refereeing and ambassador training. He is also an Active Ambassador for the college.
Eban’s dedication to his community was initially acknowledged when he was presented with the Diana Award last year. Established in memory of Diana, Princess of Wales, the Diana Award’s mission is “to foster, develop and inspire positive change in the lives of young people.”
In 2017, the Legacy Award was launched to celebrate Diana’s legacy in the 20th Anniversary year and inspire a new generation of young people to support their communities. Taking place every two years, this unique accolade celebrates the achievements of 20 outstanding young leaders, visionaries and role models from across the world, who have demonstrated their ability to inspire and mobilise new generations to service their communities, as Princess Diana did herself. The 2019 Legacy Award is sponsored by Gilead Sciences and supported by Travel Partner, British Airways and, to be eligible, youngsters must have first received a Diana Award.
Eban was thrilled when invited to fly down to a prestigious ceremony in London last week, accompanied by his mother and his mentor, Barry Edwards of Môn Actif.
He said, “It was all very surreal, and I felt like a real VIP. Prince William recognised me straight away from his time at RAF Valley – I volunteered with Sports Camps there – which was incredible! And I was the only Welsh person at the Awards so, when they asked me what piece of music I wanted to play as I walked up to the stage, and I said ‘Sebona Fi’ by Yws Gwynedd, I wasn’t sure whether they would. But they did!”
Talking about volunteering and sports, Eban added, “I am very proud of what I’ve achieved so far, but I really would also like to thank Barry Edwards, the Community Sport Development Officer at Anglesey Council who, as part of Môn Actif, has given me the opportunities and the support to enable me to succeed. Personally, I still feel that I have so much more to give. I’m passionate about sports, and I want to encourage others to develop the same passion, if I can.”
Programme Area Manager Cathy Smith said, “We are extremely proud of Eban. This award is very well deserved, as he has such a positive attitude and is totally committed to helping others and making a difference in his community – a very strong and positive role model for his peers.”
Principal Aled Jones-Griffith agreed, “Eban is such a modest young man, who does everything he does for the benefit of others and not for himself. He’s a shining example of the type of youngster who will go on and change things for the better, within his community and beyond, and we’re extremely proud to have him here, studying at Coleg Menai.”
As well as receiving his award at the glittering ceremony in London, Eban will also have access to a unique Legacy Award Development Programme.
For more information on courses in Sports at Coleg Menai, please visit www.gllm.ac.uk/sports
PHOTOS:
Eban receiving his award from Earl Spencer | Eban and the other recipients with Prince William and Eban with his award.
