GAELIC singer Julie Fowlis is to be appointed one of three new honorary fellows of the prospective University of the Highlands and Islands, where she is a postgraduate student.
She is studying for an MA in material culture and the environment through partner college Sabhal Mòr Ostaig UHI.
Honorary fellowships will also be conferred on former UK energy minister Brian Wilson and Oliver Russell, trustee of the University of the Highlands and Islands Development Trust and chairman of the campaign team, at the UHI annual lecture hosted by Lews Castle College UHI at Stornoway, on September 30.
The fellowships have been awarded in tribute to the service they have each given to their professions and communities, as well as their support for UHI.
UHI principal Professor Bob Cormack said: “Our distinguished new fellows have given tremendous support to UHI, and we are delighted to honour them.”
Ms Fowlis, who was brought up in North Uist and Ross-shire, was the first Scottish Gaelic singer to win the BBC Radio 2 folk singer of the year award in 2008. After gaining her music performance honours degree at Strathclyde University, she studied the Gaelic language for 12 months at Sabhal Mòr Ostaig UHI in Skye. She then spent three years working for the Highland charity Fèis Rois, encouraging children and adults to learn traditional song and music. Since then, she has pursued her own successful musical career.
She said: “It is a great honour to be receiving this fellowship and I am humbled to be associated with UHI in this way.”
Mr Wilson was formerly Labour MP for the Cunninghame North constituency. He held six government posts under Tony Blair, including Scottish education minister and UK energy minister. A journalist, he retired from politics in 2005.
Mr Russell is a former director of merchant bank Samuel Montagu and a Sloan Fellow of the London Business School. Over the past 30 years he has built up a sustainable and profitable business covering farming, forestry, sporting, tourism, golf and renewables at Ballindalloch, based around the Macpherson-Grant family assets.