Maya Steeley, who supported 189 families on a Lister Hospital placement, is the East of England T Level Student of the Year; classmate Lilly Ash was a finalist.

A North Hertfordshire College student who supported 189 families while on placement at the Lister Hospital in Stevenage has been named T Level Student of the Year for the East of England.

Maya Steeley won the category at the regional finals of the National Apprenticeship and Skills Awards, the college said on Monday 26 October. She now goes through to the national finals in November. Her classmate Lilly Ash, who was on placement at Bedford Hospital, was also a finalist in the same category.

Both studied the T Level in Health: Adult Nursing at the college, which has campuses in Stevenage and Hitchin. They were nominated by their tutor, Cheryl Hall, deputy head of Health and Social Care, for what the college describes as “the real-life impact they have had on the wellbeing of local residents” while on the course.

Three young women in evening dress and awards lanyards smiling in front of a Regional Apprenticeship and Skills Awards backdrop
From left, Lilly Ash, Maya Steeley and Leila Kroll at the regional awards. Photo: supplied by North Hertfordshire College

189 families at the Lister

At the Lister, Maya worked on the Carers Experience programme, supporting 189 families, according to the college. In February 2025 she was named Volunteer of the Month for helping 21 families get support in four weeks, the highest number in her team.

The regional title is not her first award this year. She also won the Future of Hertfordshire and Young Achiever awards at the Heart Hertfordshire Hero Awards 2026, after nominations from the people she had supported.

A CPR day for 270 people

Lilly spent her placement with Bedford Hospital’s physiotherapy team, in clinics and on community visits. Away from the placement, she volunteered at a CPR training event that taught 270 local students and staff how to carry out the procedure.

Some readers may also have seen her on television: she appeared in the recent BBC series Natalie Cassidy: Caring Together, which the college says helped raise the profile of the care sector.

Lilly Ash holding a Regional Finalist 2026 sign in front of a sponsors' backdrop
Lilly Ash with her Regional Finalist sign. Photo: supplied by North Hertfordshire College

Both students were also commended for their work as ambassadors for T Levels and vocational education, and both hope to become physiotherapists.

“I am incredibly proud”

Cheryl Hall said: “Congratulations, Maya and Lilly! Both of these T Level learners are so deserving of their success at the National Apprenticeship and Skills Awards regional finals. They have demonstrated a deep commitment to their studies and work on placement and have gone above and beyond to support patients and their families at our partner healthcare organisations.

“I am incredibly proud and wish them both the very best of luck for the future. Fingers crossed for Maya at the National Finals in November!”

North Hertfordshire College, whose main office is on Monkswood Way, offers T Levels and other full-time courses for school leavers aged 16 and over, as well as apprenticeships and part-time adult courses. Ofsted graded it Good with Outstanding features in November 2023.