Nearly 3 months ago we launched our first ever online digital exhibition – Student Excellence Awards Exhibition, showcasing the work by some of our most stand out students. The aim of the exhibition was to showcase the commitment, graft, and talent that our students demonstrate and to give everyone a taste of what can be achieved on our distance learning courses.
Inclusion is in recognition of noteworthy work produced during their course. This may be in terms of general improvement seen throughout the course or just for an excellent piece.
The nominations are by individual tutor’s choice and to recognise the way chosen students have gone above and beyond during their programme with us.
We also asked you to pick your favourite pieces from each category! Today we can finally and officially announce the winners. As well as receiving a Certificate of Excellence in addition to their final City & Guilds accredited course certificate, the winner from each category will receive a subscription to Craft Magazine.
Skill Stage 2 Exhibition
Category 1: Best Completed Assessment Piece
Each Skill Stage 2 student produces at least one completed piece during their course. This category was to showcase some of the best or most improved ones.
Annie Davidson won this category with her Hand Embroidery piece.
![Hand embroidery assessment piece by Annie Davidson, featuring patterned figure outlined by fire with a human curled up in their stomach](https://staging.sofst.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/03/annie-davidson-hand-embroidery-assessment-piece-1-1024x1024.jpg)
![Close up of hand embroidery piece by Annie Davidson, featuring patterned figure outlined by fire with a human curled up in their stomach](https://staging.sofst.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/03/annie-davidson-hand-embroidery-assessment-piece-2-1024x1024.jpg)
![Hand embroidery assessment piece by Annie Davidson, featuring patterned figure outlined by fire with a human curled up in their stomach](https://staging.sofst.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/03/annie-davidson-hand-embroidery-assessment-piece-3-1024x1024.jpg)
![Plans for hand embroidery piece by Annie Davidson, featuring patterned figure outlined by fire with a human curled up in their stomach](https://staging.sofst.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/03/annie-davidson-hand-embroidery-assessment-piece-4.jpg)
Category 2: Best Course Sampling
During their course work, each Skill Stage 2 student produces a folio of samples which build up throughout their coursework. Most are based on their own design work. This category showcased sampling from some of the best or most improved students.
Crochet Student, Emma Dickenson won this category, with her beautiful Crochet designs.
![Crochet sample by Emma Dickenson](https://staging.sofst.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/03/emma-dickenson-crochet-sample-3-1024x575.jpg)
![Crochet sample by Emma Dickenson](https://staging.sofst.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/03/emma-dickenson-crochet-sample-1024x577.jpg)
![Crochet sample by Emma Dickenson](https://staging.sofst.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/03/emma-dickenson-crochet-sample-2-1024x576.jpg)
![Crochet sample by Emma Dickenson](https://staging.sofst.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/03/emma-dickenson-crochet-sample-1-1024x574.jpg)
Skill Stage 3 Exhibition
Category 1: Best Completed Piece
Each Skill Stage 3 student produces at least three completed pieces during their course programme and this category showcased some of the best or most improved ones.
Steph Yates won this category with her raised Hand Embroidery/Stumpwork design, as part of her Hand Embroidery course.
![Design by Steph Yates included raised Embroidery](https://staging.sofst.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/03/steph-yates-completed-design-2.jpg)
![Completed Hand Embroidery piece by Steph Yates](https://staging.sofst.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/03/steph-yates-completed-design-1.jpg)
![Concept sketch by Steph Yates](https://staging.sofst.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/03/steph-yates-completed-design-4.jpg)
![Raised embroidery stumpwork](https://staging.sofst.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/08/Steph-Yates-@steph.j.y-module-9.jpg)
Category 2: Best Design to Textiles
Each student creates a unique design folio for themselves which they use as a basis for their sample folio and completed pieces. This category showcases student’s design starting points and their completed sample or piece.
Hand Embroidery student, Denise Dent won this category.
![](https://staging.sofst.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/12/coastdp22-min-1024x561.jpg)
![Work in progress, Hand Embroidery by Denise Dent](https://staging.sofst.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/03/best-design-to-textiles-denise-dent-1-1024x342.jpg)
![Work in progress, Hand Embroidery by Denise Dent](https://staging.sofst.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/03/best-design-to-textiles-denise-dent-4-1024x659.jpg)
![Concept for Hand Embroidery Piece by Denise Dent](https://staging.sofst.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/03/best-design-to-textiles-denise-dent-3.jpg)
Category 3: Best Course Sampling
During their coursework, Each Skill Stage 3 student produces a folio of samples which build up throughout their coursework. Most are based on their own design work. This category showcased sampling from some of the best or most improved students.
Lynda Scoulding, Textiles Student is the winner of this category.
![Textiles Sample by Lynda Scoulding](https://staging.sofst.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/03/textiles-sample-by-lynda-scoulding-2.jpg)
![Textiles Sample by Lynda Scoulding](https://staging.sofst.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/03/textiles-sample-by-lynda-scoulding-3.jpg)
![Textiles Sample by Lynda Scoulding](https://staging.sofst.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/03/textiles-sample-by-lynda-scoulding-4-1024x576.jpg)
![Textiles Sample by Lynda Scoulding](https://staging.sofst.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/03/textiles-sample-by-lynda-scoulding-1.jpg)
Skill Stage 4 Exhibition
Category 1: Best Advanced Practitioner
Our Skill Stage 4 Exhibition had just one category – Best Advanced Practitioner.
Each student creates a large folio of design work from their choice of inspirational source and bases their coursework on it. The students who were included were all at different stages of their courses. Some had completed whilst others were only part way through.
Annegret Fauser is the winner of this category with her stunning Patchwork and Quilted pieces.
![Mini Sputnik Patchwork and Quilting project by Annegret Fauser](https://staging.sofst.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/02/Untitled-design-2021-02-10T134826.236-min-808x1024.jpg)
![Sputnik Moon by Annegret Fauser](https://staging.sofst.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/03/08_SputnikMoon_2019-min-773x1024.jpg)
![Angelina Bead Patchwork and Quilting project by Annegret Fauser](https://staging.sofst.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/02/Untitled-design-2021-02-10T135054.458-min-1024x1024-1.webp)
![Paper Cloth Patchwork and Quilting project by Annegret Fauser](https://staging.sofst.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/02/Untitled-design-2021-02-10T135014.090-min-1024x893.jpg)
![Wing Printed by Annegret Fauser](https://staging.sofst.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/03/04_WingPrinted_2018-min-1024x568.jpg)
We are immensely proud of all of the students who were selected to feature in our Student Excellence Awards Exhibitions. The work produced was to an incredibly high standard. Congratulations to our winners and thank you to everyone who voted.