26-year-old Katie, from Leeds, achieved the highest grades in her cohort, which included her dissertation which explored LGBTQ issues in modern and post-modern literature. 

Katie, who pursued higher education after working full-time in sales at Lloyds Banking Group for several years, has always been passionate about learning and wanted to challenge herself. As a mature student, Katie chose Leeds Trinity after attending an Open Day and being drawn to the appeal of a smaller university. 

Deferring her course start date after having her first child, Kate gave birth to her second child during the third year of her degree programme and has studied for her degree full-time while also being a role model for her two young children. 

Katie said: “I never had the chance to go to university when I was 18, so when I was accepted at Leeds Trinity, I was thrilled. Balancing life with two children has certainly made me work harder but has also made my whole degree more valuable. The people I have met, that have supported me throughout the last three years, have had the most positive impact on me. I have found things out about myself that I didn’t know before such as my resilience, my confidence and my self-belief which have impacted how I see and share the world with my children.” 

She added: “I have nothing but glowing things to say about all the English lecturers I’ve worked with, and I feel like a better person after studying my course. I have secured a graduate role within the NHS and am really excited about this next chapter. I am working hard to be a role model for my children and prove to them that anything can be achieved through hard work.” 

Dr Kate Lister, Senior Lecturer in English Literature at Leeds Trinity University, said: “Katie has achieved the highest grades in the department and has been successful in applying for an NHS graduate training programme. Her dissertation was incredibly strong and looked at LGBTQ issues in modern and post-modern literature. She also managed to do this while being pregnant in the second year and giving birth in her third. She was already the mum of a very young child when she started her degree. She’s been an absolute powerhouse and definitely deserves recognition.”