Bryanston pupil 'highly commended' for Viasat Engineering Essay Prize

Now in its seventh year, the competition encourages participants to submit an essay to be judged by a panel of representatives from Eton, Bryanston, Viasat (key sponsors) and Battlespace Technologies. The winners were due to be announced at a presentation event at Eton College but due to the current restrictions, a virtual prizegiving took place last week instead.

Julian Nettlefold of Battlespace commented: “I founded the Essay Prize in 2012 in agreement with Tony Little, sponsored by GKN, our family firm. Engineering was not on the curriculum in 1967-72 and it took me until 1980 to find my niche in the industry, where I have been since then. Since 2012 there have been excellent and interesting essays and it has certainly ignited a renewed interest in engineering. The new sponsorship by Viasat takes us into the space engineering realm which is the new frontier.”

Bryanston’s Head of Science Nick Welford commented: “What an experience it was for our pupils to submit essays to the competition! We are so proud of Zander for his excellent achievement and would also like to take this opportunity to thank Dr Mike Kearney for giving up his time to join this year’s panel of judges.”

Eton College’s Dan Townley commented: “Congratulations to all those who entered, not just the winners. The works we received were all of an excellent standard; the work was more of an undergraduate student standard than of sixth formers. The world is in need of more, well qualified, engineers – I hope all those involved have learnt more about what the field of engineering may offer for the future.”