CRICKHOWELL lad Ryan Moon was pleased as punch to pick up the Outstanding Student of the Year award at a recent awards ceremony held in Cardiff.

The 22-year-old BSc Football Coaching and Performance student, who is also a coach at Yeovil Town Ladies Football Club, was plucked from the shortlisted nominees at the University of South Wales Sport Recognition Awards ceremony for his exemplary record in regard to volunteering his time to support others.

Moon was awarded the honour because he ticked a number of boxes in terms of academic achievement, professional development and performance in sport.

The Crickhowell high-flyer put in more than 750 hours of professional practice during the academic year, and was complimented for his ‘commitment towards honing his skills and unrelenting dedication to learning.’

Moon was also congratulated for thee support he has given through the student mentor scheme, and for giving up his spare time to share his experiences of life in the University of South Wales with potential students.

Moon explained, “This award means such a lot to me. It’s been really hard work balancing my studies and my work outside but it’s clearly been worth it.

“I hadn’t realised how busy I’ve been until it was all read out!

“I’ve had tremendous support from the university though, and there’s such a lot of people who’ve helped me along the way, especially Dr Ceri Bowley and Grant Kalahar.

“And my early inspiration was James Rowberry, my coach at Newport. He’s now working at Cardiff City. He supported me and my ambitions and gave me a good work ethic which I’ve tried to carry on.”

Proud gran Lesley Jukes told the Chronicle, “It goes without saying just how proud my husband David and I are of Ryan, and we’d just like to take this opportunity to wish him all the best with his future endeavors.”