Suhail Pasta - IT

Suhail Pasta was crowned ‘Further Education Sector Learner of the Year’ at the Lion Awards ceremony in 2006 by celebrity chef Gary Rhodes at a ceremony in London.

The 21-year-old student, originally from Kenya, overcame severe hearing impairment and speech difficulties to achieve outstanding results in his advanced IT courses. In the last three years he gained distinctions in all levels of his qualification, and successfully enrolled on a Business course at Leicester College. 

According to Pasta’s nominator, Fehmida Kapasi, lecturer at Leicester College: “Suhail is one of the most dedicated lifelong learners I have come across in Further Education.”

Despite his language barriers, Pasta has adapted extremely well to his College surroundings and is determined to work in a computer-friendly environment such as the retail industry. Further down the line, his plans are to return to Kenya and to use his skills in his father’s family business.

On hearing he secured the title, a thrilled Pasta said: “Winning this award has been the biggest achievement of my life. The joy that I feel is very difficult to describe. I feel on top of the world.

“Communication has been the biggest challenge of my life due to being deaf. My biggest motivation has been the encouragement from my parents and uncle, as well as my own personal aim to make something of my life.”