The institute has been celebrating its students' success throughout January with events at the three campuses based in Banbridge, Lurgan and Portadown.

The Lurgan ceremony will take place this evening - the last one before Upper Bann merges with Newry & Kilkeel Institute and Armagh College in August.

In total, over 500 successful further and higher education students will have received certificates, awards and trophies to mark their outstanding academic achievements in the study areas of art and design, business and secretarial, caring, catering, construction, engineering, general studies, hairdressing, beauty, leisure, tourism, sports studies, media and journalism.

Among those receiving special awards is Barry Brady (21), a current BA Honours furniture design student who originates from Cootehill in Co Cavan.

Barry received the McDonagh Platter for Best HND furniture student.

Another successful student is Marc Graham (19), who is studying for a Higher National Diploma in computing at the Portadown campus.

Marc achieved the highest overall mark for a VCE ICT student and received the MCS Trophy.

Keith McCartney (20) also started at Upper Bann Institute in September 2003. After completing a number of courses, he is now working towards an HND in computing.

The institute's director Jim Crooks said: "Our staff at Upper Bann work hard to ensure that learners attending the institute reach their full potential.

"We anticipate that there will be sustained and significant growth in higher education within further education colleges in Northern Ireland on the basis of new programmes and also because young people recognise the value of the programmes available within FE colleges.

"There is no top-up fee to pay and groups are generally smaller. We are finding that this is attractive to learners."