Leeds City College

One of our former Games Development students is celebrating winning a national award.

Larissa Radka, who completed her Level 3 course with us in 2025, has been named the 2025 TIGA BTEC Learner of the Year.

The annual TIGA Awards showcase excellence in games development, service providers and education. Nominees are judged based on an existing portfolio of work.

We spoke to Larissa about what it means to be an up-and-coming game developer.

‘I want to be part of something that makes people say wow’

Larissa’s fascination with games began at primary school, where her interest in game development quickly led her to decide that she wanted to work in the industry.

“Growing up during the 2010s felt like the golden age of gaming, with incredible technical breakthroughs. Batman: Arkham City completely blew me away. It was the first game that made me think, ‘I want to be part of something that makes people say wow’.”

Larissa’s love for games continued, but it wasn’t until she started her Level 3 course in Game Development at the college that she was able to dive deeper.

In her first year, she learned key skills including animation, narrative, sound design and importantly, 3D modelling — now her method of choice.

“The course made me realise just how much goes into making a game and how many different talents are needed. It also taught me how important self-motivation is in creative work.”

A standout student

During a team project in her second year, an unexpected event saw Larissa step up to become her team’s programmer.

Despite her lack of experience in this role, they finished their game and were even selected for the Sheffield Game Republic Student Showcase, where they presented it to industry professionals.

Throughout, Larissa enjoyed the close encouragement of her peers and tutors, including her best friend, Patricija. She credits Level 3 Games Course leader Peter Mitchell, meanwhile, for ‘inspiring me a lot, often in funny, unexpected ways and really pushing me to grow’.

Peter said: “Larissa has been a standout student from day one, excelling in both technical skills and teamwork. Her projects even caught the eye of a game developer. Her success is a reflection of her hard work.”

So, as an award-winner, what advice would Larissa give to those who are just starting out in games development?

“Stay curious and open-minded. Don’t be afraid of challenges; they often lead to your biggest growth. Most importantly, enjoy the process and keep creating, even when it gets tough.”