A HADE Edge woman has been rewarded for her commitment to learning.
Margaret Wainwright, 62, of Dunford Road, has received the University of Huddersfield Award for Adult Learning.
The award is given out as part of the Adult Learner's Week Awards, run by the charity National Institute of Adult Continuing Education (NIACE).
The awards were split into 11 regions.
Mrs Wainwright was one of many award-winners in the Yorkshire and Humber region.
She was nominated by Huddersfield University access worker Caroline Brereton because of her determination not to let obstacles prevent her from getting into education.
Mrs Wainwright worked for many years as an upholsterer before stopping work to bring up five children.
She returned to the trade, but gave it up in 2001 to study an access course at Huddersfield Technical College.
She said: "Some of my friends didn't approve and wonder why I am doing it. I do it because I enjoy it.
"I haven't done anything special, I just had the bottle to go out and do what I wanted.
"I hope young people in working class environments today receive more support than I had.
"The only route to university used to be through grammar school, which was a barrier to me."
After completing her access course, she started a history and literature degree at Huddersfield University last year.
But family difficulties meant she almost gave up her studies.
Then she was told she had won the award and it gave her new determination.
She said: "I thought `I have to carry on now' - it gave me a kick up the backside and I got myself together."
"I love studying. You make friends and it is not intimidating. I recommend it - if I had known about it I would have done this years ago."
Sylvia Gibbs, head of widening participation at Huddersfield University, presented the her award and £100 at a ceremony in Leeds Civic Hall on Sunday.
