Gower College Swansea student Regan D is looking ahead to a summer with a difference in 2025, as he has snapped up one of only four highly sought-after spots on a residential programme at the University of Florida.
Former YG Gŵyr pupil Regan, who is studying A Levels in English, Media Studies and Sociology, will jet off to Gainesville over the summer break to take part in workshops at the university’s School of Media, Communications and Journalism.
This follows on from an extremely busy few months which have seen Regan reporting from a convention in London and the Urdd Eisteddfod in Margam - all fantastic opportunities which will boost his portfolio.
Regan is a member of the College’s GCS Honours programme, which provides academic enrichment and support for students aged 16-18 who wish to apply to the best universities in the UK and beyond. GCS Honours also gives students access to the Seren Academy, a Welsh Government initiative dedicated to helping Wales’ brightest learners achieve their full academic potential.
He applied for the residential by submitting a one-page essay to the Seren Academy, highlighting his prior experience in broadcasting – he already has his own website and YouTube channels – and demonstrating his interest in developing his journalistic skills even further.
“I'm looking forward to gaining an academic insight into the world of journalism and developing skills which will be beneficial when entering the workplace,” says Regan, who has interviewed many industry figures such as actors Matt Ryan and Ioan Gruffydd, film maker Brian Levant and TV presenter Sarra Elgan Rees. “I'm keen to learn more about the art of conducting interviews and writing news stories, and I'm eager to meet aspiring journalists from all over the world.
“The summer residential will see students from places as diverse as New York and Bangladesh gather in Florida, so it will be fascinating to chat with people from different cultures and backgrounds. I feel very lucky to have been chosen!
“I'm really grateful to the Seren Academy for this opportunity and to Dr Emma Smith, GCS Honours Coordinator/Coordinator of the Swansea Seren Hub, for supporting my journey and helping refine my application.”
“This was an extremely competitive residential placement – only four places were on offer in total - so Regan has done incredibly well,” says Emma. “After gaining his A Levels, he is keen to become a professional entertainment journalist and we wish him all the best – he has already made an incredibly successful start in the industry, we think the sky is the limit!”
You can watch Regan’s interviews on his YouTube channel and his website.