Harper Adams University has announced the prize winners from Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland, who outperformed all others during their studies at the university, and graduated this autumn. CLAAS (UK) Ltd Trophy – Neale Spence Neale Spence, 22, from Craigavon, Co Armagh, was the 2015 winner of the CLAAS (UK) Ltd Trophy, presented on graduation day at Harper Adams University. The trophy honours the best BSc/BSc (Hons) Agricultural Engineering with Marketing and Management student. Greg Rowsell, programme manager, engineering courses, said: “Neale graduated with an upper second-class honours degree in Agricultural Engineering with Marketing and Management. Neale is a hard-working part of his family dairy unit and his studies have been a compromise between his academic work, at which Neale excels, and grass harvesting, his true obsession.” The award was presented by Kelly Flack, apprenticeship and placement co-ordinator at CLAAS. OBE Agri Prize - James Townley James Townley was the first recipient of a new prize introduced in 2015 for the best engineering graduate from Ireland. James, pictured receiving the OBE Agri Award, sponsored by the Co Armagh company, from Basil Bayne, secretary of the Harper Adams in Ireland Association, graduated with an MEng with distinction in agricultural engineering. The 24-year-old from Ballygowan, Co Down, spent a successful placement year at Seward Agriculture in Yorkshire. Rowsell said: “James came to Harper Adams University as a direct entry student into the second year of the BEng Agricultural Engineering course, and following excellent academic performance opted to stay on to complete the MEng course.” John Deere Trophy - Richard Cox The 2015 recipient of the John Deere Trophy, at Harper Adams University, is Richard Cox, 23, from Watergrasshill, Cork. The trophy is presented annually to the best BSc (Hons) Agricultural Engineering student. Rowsell said: “Richard graduates with an upper second class honours degree in agricultural engineering. Richard spent his placement at CNH in Basildon and completed a project assessing the comfort benefits of different tractor configurations. “Richard was a diligent and popular course rep and has made a valuable contribution to the development of his course. Richard was also an active member of the Harper Ireland student association.” The award was presented by Chris Wiltshire, tactical marketing manager at John Deere. PIET Award – Pamela Cousins Pamela Cousins, from Downpatrick, Co Down, receives the Poultry Industry Education Trust Award, for outstanding performance in poultry related studies. Basil Bayne, representing the trust, presented the award to Pamela at the Harper Adams University graduation ceremony at the end of September. Pamela, 24, completed her placement year with Aviagen in Australia and New Zealand. She was a poultry trainee student and enjoyed working across the whole company during her time abroad. A scholarship from the Poultry Industry Education Trust enabled Pamela to travel overseas and now the trust has recognised her dedication to the industry. Pamela is now working as a trainee technical manager at Cherry Valley Farms. Rumenco Award – Niall Morrow Niall Morrow received the Rumenco Beef and Sheep Award when he graduated from Harper Adams University at the end of September. Niall, 22, from Belfast, who now holds a first class degree in agriculture with mechanisation, completed the best assignment in the Sustainable Animal Production Systems module to secure the prize. Morrow comes from a farming family in Co Antrim.