A UNIVERSITY student is firmly in the reckoning for a dream role in New York after reaching the final ten in the search to find the country’s top undergraduate.

Laura Crymble, 21, from Cliviger, will be attending a lavish event at Canary Wharf in London’s Docklands on Friday, representing Nottingham Trent University in the final of the UK Undergraduate of the Year Award.

The competition is sponsored by investment bank Morgan Stanley, with the winner being guaranteed a summer internship later this year at their New York headquarters.

The former Blessed Trinity High School pupil, who is studying for a business degree, also hopes to combine her academic achievements with her other passion, acting and the performing arts.

For many years, she was a member of Burnley Youth Theatre and as well as, performing in productions, even wrote some of their shows.

She said: “I’m very proud to be representing my own university and Burnley at the awards. I was invited by the uni to enter but I didn’t think I’d get this far.

“I’m hoping once I graduate to combine by skills by finding a role in the entertainment business.”

Laura, who is a member of the student institute of directors, also credits working at It’s My Party, a well known Burnley-based children’s birthday party firm for giving her valuable experience.

“I joined their team when I was just 15 to host parties and entertain the guests.

“It developed my skills as a performer and I got great experience on the day to day operations. I’ve also had chance to work for their parent company, which is IC Entertainments on entertainment and theme park projects.

“While doing that I was able to rub shoulders with top executives from Disney and Paramount Studios in Hollywood.”