Each year Sixth Form students are invited to submit proposals for the Albert Johnston Travel Award. This year’s standard was exceptionally high and the judging panel therefore decided to crown joint winners!

Congratulations to Tuguldur Zolzaya and Charlie Harrison on their success.

Tuguldur will head to Japan after his project entitled ‘The Tale Of Tanabata, Tokyo’s Star-Crossed Lovers’ wowed the judges.

During his trip he will experience the history, culture and technology of Tokyo and will attend Tanabata (the Japanese Star festival) and practice his language skills. Whilst there he will also explore the possibility of studying at the University of Tokyo.

Charlie Harrison will be able to combine his love of History and the German language – both of which he is studying at A-level – as he visits Germany following his award success.

His ‘Visiting East Germany: A Place Of Past Oppression’ presentation enthralled the panel and whilst in the country he will put his linguistic skills to good use as he visits museums, the Gewandhaus, the Runde Ecke (former headquarters of the Stasi) and DDR. He will also go on the Peaceful Revolution tour and visit a number of parks.

The judging panel this year was made up of Head of Sixth Form Mr David Stone, SGS Archivist Stuart Helm (OS 1964), Bursar Joanne Clague, Governor Chris Muscutt, Old Stopfordians Hayley Shepherd (OS 2007) and Oliver Hopwood (OS 2003) and Award organiser and Psychology Teacher Mrs Hannah Larkin.

Talking about the choice of winners, Mrs Larkin said: “The standard of entries was incredibly high and all of the applicants did an amazing job. Each one of them really impressed the panel and should be proud of themselves.

“The winners, Tuguldur and Charlie, did a fantastic job planning and presenting their proposed trip to the panel and it was impossible to choose between them!”.