Students from the University of Derby Centre for Mineral Products have been praised for their outstanding achievements at an awards ceremony in London, including a third-time prize winner who has achieved an industry first with an exceptionally high average score.
The 2023 IQ and IAT Student Awards were held at the historic IET London: Savoy Place. The Institute of Quarrying (IQ) and Institute of Asphalt Technology (IAT) presented the awards during its joint Fellows Lunch event, with winners accepting their prizes in front of industry leaders and mineral extractives professionals.
Among the winners was Peter Triccas TMIQ, Deputy Quarries Manager for Cauldon Cement Works. Peter, who received an IQ Student Award for the third consecutive year, graduated from the University of Derby minerals course with an exceptionally high average score of 96 percent over the course duration.
At this year’s event, Triccas was presented with the Reginald W Coles Award for Best Overall Mineral Extractives Foundation Degree Student 2023. In 2021 and 2022 he was awarded the Longcliffe Calcium Carbonates Award of Excellence for Year 1 and Year 2 studies.
Commenting on his achievement, Triccas says: “I started in the quarrying industry in 2016 at Uttoxeter Quarry and have progressed to the position of Deputy Quarries Manager for Cauldon Cement Works, helped by completing my studies at the University of Derby Centre for Mineral Products. It has been a learning curve year-on-year and the knowledge I have gained from completing the mineral extraction course over the last three years will definitely help with any challenges I face in the future.”
The 2023 IQ award winners were Lewis Pinch TMIQ, Peter Triccas TMIQ, Ben Marsh, Oliver Kibble TMIQ, Joseph Dodds TMIQ and Alice Radbourne. They received their prizes from Viv Russell FIQ, President of the Institute of Quarrying, and James Thorne, IQ CEO.
Viv Russell FIQ says: “It has been a pleasure to host the Student Awards alongside the Institute of Asphalt Technology, reinforcing our cross-sector relationship and supporting the development of future leaders in our industries. The students have gone above and beyond this year, and Peter’s incredible achievement of three awards in consecutive years alongside consistently high average scores is a testament to the dedication and hard work that it takes to succeed.”
The IAT presented prizes to Christopher Potter, Michael Kenyon, Dermot Leonard, Alexander Hewstone and Tom Feather.
IAT President, Gearoid Lohan adds: “On behalf of everyone at the Institute of Asphalt Technology, I’d like to congratulate all the winners. We’re extremely proud of our partnership with the Institute of Quarrying and are delighted that we can continue to support the development of talent in both our industries.”
Each year the top-performing students from the University of Derby Centre for Mineral Products are presented with an award from the Institute of Quarrying and Institute of Asphalt Technology. It is a recognition of their outstanding achievement and continuous commitment to the mineral extractives industry.
