Sky Sports Living for Sport, in partnership with the Youth Sport Trust, has encouraged schools across the UK in recent months to nominate pupils whose involvement demonstrates how sport has supported them in developing skills such as confidence, respect and a sense of achievement.

Now 12 regional finalists have been invited to attend the national awards ceremony at Wembley Stadium on January 19, 2012, where Olympic gold medal winning sprinter and Sky Sports Living for Sport Ambassador Darren Campbell will be presenting the overall Sky Sports Living for Sport Student of the Year Award 2011.

The project  is part of a free secondary schools initiative that uses sport stars and sport skills to improve the lives of thousands of young people by boosting confidence, changing behaviours and increasing attainment.

"All twelve of these pupils really deserve their awards," Campbell said.

"I know how influential sport can be on the development of young people.

"And going into schools, I've seen for myself how much of an impact Sky Sports Living for Sport is having.

"It's incredible to watch how pupils' attitudes can shift and how belief in themselves and their abilities can be transformed.

"This award demonstrates how sport is helping them equip themselves with skills that will help them succeed."

The regional finalists are:

Scotland: Mark Ferguson, Daldorch House School, Catrine; East Midlands: Nick Wood, The Lancaster School, Leicester; West Midlands: Abdul Jalil, Blue River Academy, Greet; East of England: Nahida Begum, Bedford Academy, Bedford; North West: Charlotte Dale, Macclesfield Academy, Macclesfield; North East: Emma Cassell, Manor Technology College, Hartlepool; Northern Ireland: Eoghan Doherty, St Mary's Grammar School, Magherafelt; Wales: Ethan Ashby, Llandarcy Community Centre, Llandarcy; London: Yahya Muhieddine, The Lampton School, Hounslow; South West: Zac Lavers, The Castle School, Taunton; South East: Shaquille Jack, Sir William Ramsay School, High Wycombe; Yorks & the Humber: Lindsay McGlone, Balby Carr Community Sports & Science College, Doncaster

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