Profoundly deaf Vicky Fletcher, of Hunters Meadow, took the principal's award as well as a GNVQ in advanced information technology and the lecturer's prize for the greatest contribution to GNVQ information technology.

Vicky, 19, who now works for the Skipton Building Society, was educated at a school for the deaf and went to Craven College to complete her education.

In his presentation speech principal Alan Blackwell said Vicky had developed abilities that many hearing people often lack.

"She masters practical skills very quickly and looks for other means of communication - IT for example," he said.

"While other students on the course were grappling with the difficulties of using email and Internet, she had already located the addresses of societies for the deaf at home and abroad, found a page of 'deaf jokes' and had struck up an email acquaintance with one deaf student in America and Japan."

Vicky, who has been deaf from birth, admitted to being embarassed at winning the awards but says: "I am very proud and happy."

It's a double celebration for Vicky because she recently passed her driving test.

She and Embsay-based driving instructor Malcolm Rayner devised a series of signals to communicate during driving lessons.

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