CHRISTOPHER O'Connor is off to university in Derby this September - and will be several years older than the teenage students.

Continuing his studies with an Adult Access course at Basingstoke College of Technology has brought double honours for the 33-year-old who lives close to the college in Worting Road.

Christopher has not only worked successfully for a university place, but also scooped the Individual Learner Award at Milestones on Tuesday evening.

While studying, he has been a support care worker at Darlington House in Basingstoke - proof that someone can go the extra mile when they set their mind to it.

When Christopher started his course in art and design, he had very little in the way of formal qualifications but has now boosted his practical and literacy skills.

His goal is to be an art therapist after graduating from Derby. He was nominated for the award by BCOT tutor Paul Ryan, who said: "Christopher is able to change his life totally.

"He will become a professional in his chosen field and be able to contribute to society on this basis."

Paul described Christopher's acceptance for a university course as a "great achievement" - something the judges also agreed when they chose him as the first-ever winner of the Individual Learner Award.

A LONG illness knocked Katy Blay's confidence in returning to study - but at the age of just 20, she was a runner-up in the Individual Learner category.

Katy, who lives in Warwick Road in Winklebury, Basingstoke, was nominated for the award by Ann Napleton, of BCOT, who was confident that she would win a place at Southampton Institute to study for a BSc.

The initially reluctant student has passed 12 units in her advanced ICT, and now says: "I have gained so much from studying at BCOT. I have a lot more confidence in myself. I also have expanded on my knowledge of IT, computers and the industry."

Now Katy is off to Southampton to study for a business IT degree - but it all very nearly didn't happen.

She recommends everyone to give serious thought to continued study. She said: "I nearly considered not going to college, but I did - and I think it was the best decision I have made."

PAT Gunner has some short, sharp advice for anyone dithering about extra studies. It's quite simply: "Go for it!"

And for Pat, of Bloswood Drive, Whitchurch, taking the plunge to go to BCOT to improve her computer skills was a brave decision. Not only is she 57 years old, but she almost died from a brain haemorrhage 10 years ago and was off work for 15 months.

She said: "Do not be put off by age or lack of experience. I had major brain surgery and have proved that learning is still possible."

Pat took her IT course because she was using a computer at home and at work without any formal training. Now she is looking to study more and is considering an Indian head massage qualification.

Her nominator, Maggie Donovan at BCOT, said: "She is a courageous and generous person with an ongoing thirst for knowledge, fired, as she says, by her realisation that she nearly wasn't here."

Pat won through to complete her course in Key Skills in IT.

AT THE age of 59, Jennifer Capewell is two years older than Pat Gunner and returned to learning after taking early retirement.

She needed a City and Guilds certificate in teaching adult learners to retrain as a yoga instructor - and now runs adult education classes.

Her nominator, Pam Lonsdale of BCOT, was more than impressed. She said: "Jennifer's approach of learning for its own sake and for the fun of it is an inspiration.