Flowering Talent

Olesja Mironuka-Kupra has picked up an award for her exceptional floristry skills after studying at Doncaster College.

Olesja has been awarded a City & Guilds Medals for Excellence Highly Commended Certificate after completing a NPTC Level 3 Floristry course at the College. Only a half a dozen people receive this honour every year.

Olesja, 26, originally hails from Russia and arrived in this country in 2004. After working in a factory for a while she decided to learn English and enrolled at Doncaster College on an ESOL (English for Speakers of Other Languages) course. This gave her the desire to branch out and do something she wanted to do. Knowing she wanted something in the arts with hands on skills, she settled on floristry and soon proved very good at it.

Olesja said, "Wow I really enjoyed my time at Doncaster College, it was something new and I liked it. I also liked the teachers, they were really nice."

The College's Floristry department was also recognised for its high standard of teaching and training.

Olesia now has her own floristry business in the indoor market in Doncaster Town Centre, specializing in dried and silk designs, she also sells floristry sundries and does specialist work in fresh flowers for weddings and funerals.

She balances work with bringing up three children.

In the future Olesia plans to do Level 4 Floristry at the College.