The Sky Sports Living for Sport Student, Teacher and Project of the Year winners were crowned by global sporting icons David Beckham and Jessica Ennis-Hill, at a star studded ceremony broadcast live on 20 May.

The Awards celebrate the outstanding achievements of pupils and teachers in using sport to improve lives through their involvement in Sky Sports Living for Sport. Now in its 11th year, the initiative works with a team of over 70 Athlete Mentors to inspire pupils to harness the power of sport to improve young lives.

STUDENT OF THE YEAR WINNER - BETHAN GILL

Student of the Year - Finalists

16-year-old Bethan Gill (pictured centre above) of Samuel Cody Specialist Sports College, Farnborough, Hampshire, was announced Student of the Year and presented with a trophy by David and Jessica in a special one-off episode of Game Changers, hosted by Darren Campbell and Di Dougherty and broadcast simultaneously on Sky Sports 1 HD and Sky 1 HD.

Bethan was chosen for the remarkable progress she has made both in the classroom and on the sports field after five years involvement in Sky Sports Living for Sport projects, all designed to raise self-confidence

Scooping the coveted Student of the Year Award, Bethan is one of over 50,000 students nationwide who last year took part in Sky Sports Living for Sport, a secondary schools initiative delivered in partnership with the Youth Sport Trust. She won the prize after being named as one of three finalists, and was chosen as the overall winner by a judging panel, including Sky Ambassadors David and Jessica, in recognition of the outstanding personal journey she has made both on and off the sports field.

Sky Sports Living for Sport Athlete Mentor and Great Britain women’s hockey star Alex Danson told Sky Sports News: “I’m absolutely bursting with pride! To think when I first met Bethan five years ago she was a shy, quiet withdrawn person in the classroom – and now she’s being interviewed by Sky Sports and collecting her reward. It’s a testament to Bethan and to what this initiative is all about.”

TEACHER OF THE YEAR WINNER - STACEY HOWARD

Teachers of the Year - Finalists

Meanwhile, Yorkshire teacher Stacey Howard (pictured centre above) of Holy Family RC High School, Carlton, was crowned as Sky Sports Living for Sport Teacher of the Year.

Stacey, who works only two days a week as a specialist teacher at Holy Family but gives up almost all her spare time to support the initiative, was chosen because of the incredible commitment and passion she puts into running Sky Sports Living for Sport projects – supporting students’ progress not just for one term but throughout their entire school life.

Stacey said: “I am so honoured to have been involved with such a wonderful initiative and, to be honest, overwhelmed that I was chosen for the award. The whole thing was amazing. It’s an experience that myself, the students and the school will never forget. It will stay with us all our lives.”

PROJECT OF THE YEAR WINNER - RASTRICK HIGH SCHOOL

Rastrick - POY

The Sky Sports Living for Sport Project of the Year went to Rastrick High School (pictured above) of Brighouse, Yorkshire. 

Rastrick High was selected for the shortlist after PE teacher Dean Watson's innovative choice of Aussie Rules Football for a Sky Sports Living For Sport project saw remarkable results as students not only fell in love with a new sport but made incredible strides in English lessons at the same time.

HIGHLY COMMENDED STUDENTS

Highly Commended Students

An additional nine students also received Highly Commended medals in recognition of their achievements through Sky Sports Living for Sport, including Antony Lucas and Nathan Verge of Sholing Technology College, Southampton.

Reflecting on the success stories highlighted at this year’s Awards, David Beckham commented: “It was a privilege to be able to give Bethan her award today and celebrate her inspirational story on what really was an incredible day. What an honour to meet so many other outstanding students, teachers and Athlete Mentors too.

"They are shining examples of what Sky Sports Living for Sport is all about and demonstrate the power that sport can have in helping young people believe in themselves and reach their full potential."

Jessica Ennis-Hill added: “Congratulations to all the winners and finalists; you really did show why Sky Sports Living for Sport can be such a life-changing initiative.

“I hope that these Awards will leave us all more inspired than ever that sport has the power to make a huge difference to young people’s lives; not just on the field or on the track but in every area of life.”

You can check out the inspiring case studies for all of the finalists here.