A BURNLEY student is among six to be short-listed for a national education award -- but will be thousands of miles away in America when the winner receives the cash prize.

Craig Kelshaw, 17, is in the second and final year of a BTec National Diploma in public services at Burnley College.

Craig, of Greenfold Drive, Loveclough, has been short-listed for the vocational achievement award at the Edexcel Achievements in Education Awards 2002.

If he wins, he will receive £1,000 to spend on an educational activity or item of his choice, while the college will receive £1,000.

He has also been entered for the outstanding student of the year award, to be judged by a high profile panel including former Beirut hostage Terry Waite CBE, the youngest Briton to climb Everest Bear Grylls and Premiership referee David Elleray.

The winner will be announced on May 13, with a presentation ceremony in London in July -- when Craig will be at Camp America.

The Scout leader said: "I have shown my commitment by researching my studies and areas related to my course in my own time to show that I want to achieve the best I can.

"I feel that it is important to have hobbies and interests outside of college as it increases your awareness of the 'real world.'

"I will find out if I have won on May 13, but I will not be able to attend the ceremony in July because on June 12 I fly to New Hampshire to work at Camp America for two-and-a-half months."

Craig is now considering offers from five universities and hopes to pursue a career in the police or Royal Marines.

He has already put his studies to good use in his work as a Scout leader at 45th Rossendale in Crawshawbooth and he has volunteers to work with local primary schools teaching sport to young people.

Craig was also involved in carrying out customer satisfaction surveys at the police station to find out how to improve police relations with the public.

He also helps other students and talks to parents at college open days and recently won a scholarship for a three-week outward bound course.

Leader of the public services programme Lorraine Barker said: "Craig has made outstanding progress on the course.

"From the beginning he has shown that he is fully committed to his work and future development.

"He goes that extra length in order to produce both practically and academically a high level of achievement.

"His determination always wins through and he continues to be an enthusiastic student, punctual, helpful and give his full application to his chosen course."