Rhyl: Leading light in tennis & politics earns alumni award
The 22-year-old, already the youngest member of the Lawn Tennis Association (LTA) Council, received a Distinguished Alumni Award from KCL, following in the footsteps of names such as Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer and Olympian Dina Asher-Smith.
Having completed his A -Levels at Coleg Cambria's Deeside Sixth Form Centre in 2021 – where he achieved A*s in government and politics, economics, PE and the Welsh Baccalaureate – Jonathon moved to London to read philosophy, politics and economics.
Jonathon Dawes (Image: Submitted)
He has since returned to the college on several occasions to share his journey and inspire learners.
'It was Coleg Cambria that encouraged me to apply to university when I was considering other options, and I'm so glad they did,' he said.
'They nurtured my passion for tennis and gave me the confidence to think big.'
While at KCL, Jonathon spent two years on its tennis committee and served as president in his final year, setting out an 'inclusive-by-design' vision to ensure every student could enjoy university life through tennis, increasing membership by 65 per cent and securing a partnership with global brand, Wilson.
After graduating first-class with honours, he continued to volunteer with KCL Tennis, spearheading a programme which included its first LGBTQ+ tennis festival.
In total, his post-graduation efforts have engaged 350+ students and unlocked more than £2,500 in new funding, while charity events have raised almost £1,000 for good causes.
Jonathon is currently completing an MA in research methods for political science at Durham University.
He will begin a PhD in September within the Department of Sport and Exercise Science, investigating politics and under-served communities in tennis.
'King's College London is a world-leading university, so to be recognised at such a young age is a huge honour,' he said.
'But this is only the beginning – I'm committed to making tennis more accessible for everyone, in Wales, the UK and beyond.'
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