A Shropshire student scooped a sponsorship boost after impressing architectural design bosses during an impressive work experience placement.
Caitlin Morgan, 16, from Grinshill near Shrewsbury, is a student at Thomas Adams School, Wem, and has her heart set on a career in architecture.
She told Craig Marston, director of Ke-design about her plans to travel to Peru on a scheme aimed at improving living standards during her work experience with the company.
After completing a work experience placement with award-winning Ke-design based in Oswestry and Shrewsbury, Caitlin has returned to help out at national home exhibitions and has attended architectural talks by some of the county’s leading architectural practices at the Hive in Shrewsbury.
Company boss Mr Marston said he was so impressed with Caitlin’s efforts, he immediately donated £500 in sponsorship for her Peru trip.
She will now be involved in a programme run by Camps International where she will help with environmental projects and installing amenities for some of the oldest civilisations on Earth.
“Having no real knowledge of architecture before university, I felt it would be useful to give Caitlin the experience.
“It’s rare to find someone as committed and dedicated as Caitlin. She was very impressive during her time with us and also helped out when we exhibited at the National Homebuilding & Renovating Show in Birmingham over a weekend in March,” he said.
“She sat in on meetings, came up with ideas, presented them confidently and actually came up with designs that we have incorporated into a project we are currently involved with.
“Her enthusiasm is infectious and her whole approach during her time with us was refreshing from one so young. This sort of attitude is deserving of praise and reward and I am delighted to be able to donate £500 towards her Peru trip.”
Caitlin said: “I told dad when I was 13 that I wanted to be an architect and have always been interested in the creative arts. It runs in the family, my dad is an illustrator/designer, mum is a magazine designer and my brother is a copywriter in advertising and content creation.
“Craig opened my eyes to the possibilities of architecture by lending me some architectural books just before my work experience. When I went to Ke-design I loved the problem solving and was really pleased with my designs.
“He took me to a new client meeting, which was brilliant. I worked through the challenges of the brief and by the end of my time with Craig and the team at Ke-design I was given the daunting task of presenting my solution to the client brief, to the people in the office.
“This was a real confidence booster for me and some of my design ideas were actually used in the final planning drawings for the client which was amazing.
“I really enjoyed my time with Ke-design and helping out on the stand at the expo further boosted my confidence – it was something I don’t think I would have been able to do a couple of years ago.
“I’d like to thank Craig for the experience and the donation towards my trip to Peru, his insight has helped with my decision to go to university to study architecture and hopefully establish a career in it.
“I am really looking forward to my trip and could be involved in building classrooms and community housing, supporting some of the oldest civilisations, the Quechua and Aymara people, with the aim of improving the standard of living.
“I’ll also be taking in some amazing sights at up to 3.800 metres above sea level and getting involved in environmental reforestation projects carried out by Camps International. It really will be a once in a lifetime experience.”