University of York students hit the heights
Posted on 12 July 2007
Young mother’s degree of satisfaction
Student life for Katy Johns was one of the most positive experiences of her life – and it was certainly never dull.
She joined her Nursing course at the University of York’s Department of Health Sciences as a 27-year-old mother of two children, daughter Rosy, aged three, and five-year-old Charlie.
In Katy’s first year, while returning by air from a holiday, she saved a seven-year-old girl who was choking on a boiled sweet.
“We had just been studying infant resuscitation, so it was all fresh in my mind, and I offered to help when the cabin crew couldn’t dislodge the sweet from the girl’s throat. Thankfully, I was able to and the girl recovered,” she said.
She has also done a stint with paramedics providing help to victims of road accidents, and this week she will receive her Diploma of Higher Education in Nursing at the University’s Graduation Ceremonies. Her two children now aged six and eight will be there to see her.
York born-and-bred Katy said: “Studying nursing was something that I have always wanted to do. I wanted to do something worthwhile and give something back to society. It was difficult at times to organise child care, and I couldn’t have done it without the support of my partner, and my Mum and Dad.”
Katy is now working in a new first response service based at Monkgate Health Centre in York .
Pete and Dud live on…..
A film of a classic Peter Cook and Dudley Moore sketch, performed by two English graduates from the University of York will now become a teaching aid for the University’s new Department of Theatre, Film and Television.
Marcus Emerton and Alan Stewart, who will graduate this week in English with Writing and Performance, played the legendary comedy duo in a remake of their spoof interview of Sir Arthur Grebe-Streebling.
The sketch received its first outing at the University in a Comedy Review by Writing and Performance students, with Marcus playing the role of the interviewer and another student as Sir Arthur.
Later, Alan stepped in as interviewer while Marcus switched to playing the Peter Cook role. They performed it for a workshop of first year students, and it was later filmed for use in the new department’s online course work.
Marcus, 21, from Sandbach, Cheshire , said: “Although it was not course work, it has lots of very strong links with the work we have been doing as part of the Degree.”
Alan, also 21, who was born in Bedfordshire but now lives in York , added: “It was the first time I had ever been filmed and it was great to work with the technology. It was a terrific experience and if the courses in TFTV are anything like that, they’ll be fantastic.”
Marcus is planning to take a year out to decide his next move, either seeking a place in drama school or studying for an MA. Alan will study for a Post-Graduate Certificate in Education (PGCE) in Cambridge , and hopes to become a teacher in English and Drama.
Nuclear physicist’s rallying call to women
A vacation scholarship working with the nuclear physics group in the Department of Physics at the University of York, convinced Frances Charlwood that it was the subject her.
Two years later, Frances gained a rare First Class degree with distinction – a ‘starred First’ -- from the University of York and is now due to start a PhD in nuclear physics at the University of Manchester in September.
Frances , 22, from Loughborough, has science in the blood – both her parents have science degrees. But she is mystified by how few women study Physics.
“I can’t understand why more girls don’t take up Physics. It’s such a diverse subject, there’s something in it to excite everyone. Whether it’s seeing a star explode or using microscopy to see individual atoms, I don’t see why it should be the preserve of boys,” she said.
“I have really enjoyed my time at York . There’s been a real mix of things to do on t he course, so it’s been really interesting. The vacation scholarship working with the nuclear physics group in the Department really gave me the taste for the world of research.”
As well as gaining a starred First, she was also joint winner of the Oliver Heavens Prize for the best final year student.
ENDS