BRIGHT engineering students at Rugby College have expressed their pride at seeing the Olympic-style torch they created take centre stage at a relay.
Millie Read, Bailey Murphy and Dan Piggot created the torch for the Flame of Friendship, a torch relay which visited 62 schools across Coventry.
Part of the first cohort to complete the Engineering T Level at the college, the three students went on placement with WMG at the University of Warwick as part of their course.
Millie and Bailey joined more than 700 Coventry pupils and teachers at the Flame of Friendship closing ceremony at the university campus.
The initiative took place in the run-up to the 2024 Paris Olympics and Paralympic Games and celebrated friendship, team work, sports and international collegiality.
More than 2,000 pupils submitted design ideas for the torch, and the winning design was developed by the students and members of the technical team at WMG.
Millie, 17, from Rugby, said: “It was definitely challenging but it was a good experience.
“To see the torch travelling around Coventry and then at the centre of the closing ceremony was a proud moment.
“We had a fantastic mentor during our time at WMG and learned a lot during our time on placement. We had the chance to develop a lot of skills, particularly with designing, and the chance to get hands on too. That was definitely the case with the Flame of Friendship.
“We built the design on CAD software and mirrored the design features from the school as much as we could, bearing in mind safety and making sure the torch was light enough to carry.
“Instead of a real flame, which wouldn’t have been safe for children in the schools, we installed LED lighting and added material to mirror the look of stain glass windows at Coventry Cathedral.
“I know that one of the torches will be displayed at the college, with another at WMG and another at the school that won the design competition.”
Annie Elson, Industry Placement Coordinator at WCG (Warwickshire College Group) said: “We couldn’t be prouder of our students, not only for their involvement in the Flame of Friendship, but also how they have applied themselves during their placement at WMG.
“It is the perfect example of how employers can support the delivery of T Levels and the development of the next generation of skilled individuals.”
