South West College (SWC) is celebrating the success of Enniskillen student Ellie Carvill, who has been crowned NI Travel Student of the Year 2026 following a competitive assessment process at the Northern Ireland Travel News headquarters in Holywood.
Ellie, who is studying the Ulster University Foundation Degree in Science in Tourism Hospitality and Event Management (with Specialisms) at South West College, was selected as the overall winner from a strong field of finalists representing further education colleges across Northern Ireland.
The prestigious competition challenged finalists through a series of interviews and assessments before an expert judging panel made up of leading figures from the travel and tourism industry. Judges included Sandra Corkin from Oasis Travel, Anneka Allen from Crowne Plaza Belfast, Brenda Morgan MBE from City of Derry Airport and Jonathan Adair from Northern Ireland Travel News.
Ellie impressed the panel with her outstanding industry knowledge, professionalism and enthusiasm for the sector, earning recognition as the top travel student in Northern Ireland.
As NI Travel Student of the Year 2026, Ellie will receive her award at the 34th Northern Ireland Travel & Tourism Awards, organised by Northern Ireland Travel News, at the Slieve Donard Hotel in October.
Siobhan Hallawell, Lecturer in Travel and Tourism at South West College, praised Ellie's achievement:
“This is a well-deserved recognition for Ellie. She has consistently demonstrated a deep commitment to her studies, an excellent understanding of the travel and tourism industry, and a genuine passion for her future career. Everyone at South West College is incredibly proud of what she has achieved.
“Ellie’s success highlights the high calibre of travel and tourism students studying at South West College and reflects the College’s commitment to developing industry-ready graduates equipped with the skills and knowledge sought by employers.”
Each finalist received a certificate in recognition of reaching the final stage of the competition. The other finalists were Maeve Scullion from Belfast Metropolitan College, Sinead McDonnell from Southern Regional College and Caroline Ramsey from North West Regional College.