Jane’s First Class tribute to mum

Jane Batham overcame the tragic death of her mother to achieve a First Class honours degree in Business Management from the University of Teesside. And she will also graduate twice this week.

Jane will receive her First Class (BA) Business Management degree at the Town Hall today and will return on Friday to be awarded the Cecil M Yuill Award for the highest achievement in any field of study. This makes Jane the University of Teesside's Student of the Year.

Jane, 22, from Richmond, wanted to study locally and chose the BA (Hons) Business Management.

Jane said: "I had to leave the course during my final year as I was struggling with the workload as well as caring for my Mum, Sarah. She was diagnosed with cancer in April 2004. However, I decided I really wanted to complete the degree so came back and began the final year again. Mum was in hospital during this time and she died on 2 January this year.

"I was really overwhelmed when I received the call from the University and found out I was Student of the Year. I'm sure my Mum would be very proud, this award is for her."

Jane said of her degree course: "I enjoyed it and the work involved, especially the challenges of the final year. I wanted to work hard and do well. My final project was a report to assess the feasibility of opening an organic restaurant in Richmond. I looked at the existing competition, the demographics of the people who live there to explore which type of restaurant could succeed.

"I'm aiming to find a marketing job in York where my boyfriend works. He also did a business degree at Teesside and has been very supportive to me. As well as my degree, I've got an Institute of Direct Marketing Certificate in Direct Marketing Principles which I earned during my final year."

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