THE winner of the Higher education Learner of the Year Award works in the glamorous world of fashion. Karen Budge, 37, from Farnborough, achieved a lifetime's ambition when she decided to return to learning to get away from her secretarial career and take an Honours degree in texiles for fashion.

Karen said: "I found the confidence to change my life and attend college. I then pursued my interests in historical costume and now work in a museum, design cards and make feltwork items.

"I also did an NVQ in heritage care and went to the London College of Fashion to study the history of fashion."

This also led Karen to go into adult education to teach fashion and watercolours - and her future plans include taking an MA to give her even more qualifications in her field.

A portfolio of her print designs and outfits has been exhibited at New Designers in London, and she travelled to Paris as part of her studies.

She was nominated by Jacqueline Josey, who said: "Karen proved to others that she could do a full-time degree while doing a job, plus looking after a home, and inspired other mature students to return to study."

Self-motivation took Karen back into lifelong learning when she was in her 20s, and her dedication and hard work have made her a winner in her own right.

She now works for Milestones and is an adult education teacher at the Wavell Cody School in Farnborough.

RUNNER-UP Tania Ashton still has plenty of studying to do as she wants to convert her HND in business into a full Honours degree.

The 48-year-old, of Holbein Close, Basingstoke, was nominated by Phil Howe, of BCOT, who praised her for the high grades she attained over her two-year course and her academic and intellectual development.

For Tania, her studies are making up for not being able to get into higher education at an earlier age. Reflecting on her course, she said: "It's hard work but the benefits are huge."

Much of her motivation for returning to education came from the workplace. She said: "I needed to gain a better understanding of business if I wanted to climb the ladder.

"Others around me were better qualified but didn't have my experience. I am very competitive so I had to be equal, if not better, than those I work with."

FOR Melanie Hill, the Basingstoke Adult Learner Awards gala evening was particularly special as she did the double - being a runner-up in the Higher Education Learner of the Year Award and for the Lifetime Achievement Award.