Bath Academy

Bob wins CIFE college prize

Gong Chen (Bob) has been awarded a CIFE prize in recognition of his all-round achievement and contribution to Bath Academy life throughout the two and a half years that he spent at the college.

When Bob first arrived in Feb. 2007 he needed to take an Intensive English course before starting A level work. It is a measure of his complete dedication and determination to succeed that, by the time he applied to university eighteen months later, he had already achieved 6.5 at IELTS.

Bob gained good AS level results particularly in Mathematics and then transferred to a University Foundation course for the second year. On this course he gained the third highest overall mark, only missing the second place by one mark, a position which astonishingly went to his younger brother! Bob's ambition was always to gain a place on the highly selective four year Business Administration course at Bath University which presented him with the extra challenge of needing 7 at IELTS. Being Bob he managed to gain the grade just in time and is now happily settled on the course and doing well.

Bob never allowed his academic achievement to limit his participation in college social life and he was a very popular and well respected member of his college hostel. He took an active part in organising events such as the International Evening and generally acted as a father figure for many of the Chinese students. When choosing a student for a CIFE college award, Bob was the obvious candidate because of his ability, enthusiasm, dogged determination and popularity.