Nominated by: Louise Cram
THE FORMER director of construction and engineering at Highlands College has been nominated for Teacher of the Year for supporting a family through an unimaginable loss and “making something so very sad and unbearable a bit better”.
Nick Rudkin was nominated by Louise Cram, whose son, Daniel, was a student at Highlands before he died suddenly and unexpectedly.
Ms Cram praised Mr Rudkin for going “above and beyond” to ensure Daniel’s classmates were offered support and someone to talk to, while also helping “bridge the important gap between students and family”.
In 2025, Mr Rudkin contacted Ms Cram to tell her a plumbing apprentice award had been renamed the Danny Cram Award, and asked her to present it.
In 2026, he worked hard to make it possible for Daniel to posthumously qualify and receive his certificates.
Ms Cram said: “All of his acts were well above and beyond what would be expected of a teacher and we are so incredibly grateful.”
