More than 200 people gathered to see some of the Highlands’ top students honoured at a ceremony in Inverness.
A total of 68 students were awarded at the prize-giving ceremony for Inverness College UHI’s annual student award, which took place last night.
The awards celebrate achievement, success and personal endeavour across the entire curriculum, including further education, higher education and apprenticeships.
Students were nominated by Inverness College UHI staff and sponsored by a local business or organisation, who donated a prize.
The prize-giving culminated in the crowning of this year’s Students of the Year.
Andrew Smith took the award for Higher Education, Nazia Ali for Further Education and Iona Campbell for Apprentice of the Year.
Chris O’Neil, Inverness College UHI principal, said: “These awards are all about celebrating our students’ achievements and it has been truly humbling to hear their stories – from students who have shown passion, commitment and determination to succeed, to others who have overcome personal challenges and thrived despite the barriers.
“It makes me honoured to stand here as the principal of an institution which can welcome a 16-year-old, nurture them, give them skills, confidence and challenge them, but, at the same time, be a place for future geneticists, engineers, psychologists, nurses and teachers to learn and grow.
“I’d like to personally congratulate every single one of these students, who should be very proud of what they have achieved.”
Andrew Smith (36), of Dingwall, was named overall Higher Education Student of the Year. The father-of-two has just finished the BSc in Psychology and has been accepted to study as a trainee occupational psychologist at postgraduate level – a move he’s still considering.
Nazia Ali was named overall Further Education Student of the Year. Nazia (38) lives in Inverness and recently completed the NC in Early Education and Childcare. She was rocked by a tragic and unexpected death in her family early on in her studies, but remained determined to achieve her NC, even delaying a visit to India to see family until the academic holidays.
Iona Campbell (22), from Fort William, was named the overall Apprentice of the Year. The 22-year-old has just completed a two-year Modern Apprenticeship in Quantity Surveying with Robertson Northern, qualifying with an HNC in Quantity Surveying and an SVQ3 in Construction, Contraction, Operations and Estimating.
Andrew Bowie, president of the Highlands and Islands Students’ Association (HISA) Inverness, presented the UHI Skills and Employability Awards to students Fraser Welsh and Donna MacAngus. The awards recognise and reward students who gain additional employability skills through participation in extra-curricular activities. Donna MacAngus also picked up a Higher Education Class Representative of the Year Award alongside Robert McTaggart, who picked up the Further Education Class Representative of the Year Award.
For the first time, the Inverness College UHI Board of Management also presented an Endeavour Award, which went to student Ruth Strong.
Ruth was home schooled until the age of 15 when she enrolled on one of the Supported Education programmes for students with additional support needs. Ruth, who is on the Autistic Spectrum, thrived on the Skillsbuilder and Pathways programmes and her communication and social skills have improved significantly, along with her determination for self-improvement. Ruth recently progressed to mainstream education, studying Introduction to Art and Design, and hopes to move on to the NC Art and Design course next year.
