Inverness College UHI celebrates annual Student Awards

MORE than 200 people, including proud friends and family, have gathered to see this year’s top students honoured at the Inverness College UHI annual Student Awards.

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Professor Chris O'Neil, principal of Inverness College UHI, Nazia Ali, Iona Campbell and Andrew Smith.

A total of 68 students were awarded at the prize-giving ceremony, which took place at Inverness College UHI on Thursday 21st June to mark the end of the academic year.

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.”

Tom Campbell, Managing Director of NC500, attended as guest speaker. He talked about how his career enabled him to create and build the NC500 and how, with the right knowledge and transferrable skills, the world can be your oyster.

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.

Andrew decided to enrol on the degree with a view to furthering his career and has flourished in his studies, despite having profound dyslexia. He found the support he required at Inverness College UHI, regularly working with a scribe, the student support team, and by using assistive software to read text books and journals.

Lecturers described Andrew as someone who took full advantage of the opportunities available to him and played a full part in university life.

Andrew said: “The flexibility of the degree programme has really made this all possible. It’s allowed me to combine study with working and bringing up my two girls. I really can’t thank the lecturing team enough, they’ve been so supportive. I am so shocked to win this award.”

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.

Lecturers described her as a conscientious, polite and supportive student, who never grumbles despite juggling two children, a home, placement responsibilities and her studies. They said her work was of the highest standard and always ahead of deadline, despite English not being her first language. Nazia has been known to re-write her work several times using a dictionary to make sure it was perfect.

A former Accountancy graduate, Nazia said: “It’s a complete change of direction for me but it has been brilliant – I have enjoyed every minute of the course. The lecturers and students on the course were so supportive. I have worked really hard so I’m delighted to receive this award. It’s such a surprise.”

Nazia is currently working as an early years childcare worker for the Care and Learning Alliance but hopes to return next year to study the HNC in Childhood Practice.

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. Her assessors described her work as excellent and always of a professional standard. She continues to work for Robertson in Fort William and hopes to pursue a career in Quantity Surveying.

Iona said: “I didn’t expect to win at all. I loved every minute of it, getting to work in the industry but also coming up to Inverness to do my studies, it was the perfect balance.”

Senior phase secondary school pupils, studying as part of the Schools Programme, also picked up awards for their achievements. These included Maisie Charteris, a Culloden Academy pupil who completed the Uniformed and Emergency Services course; Graham Bowden, also a pupil at Culloden Academy, who studied the National Progression Award in Computing; Jack Skinner, a pupil at Tain Royal Academy, who recently completed his Foundation Apprenticeship in Civil Engineering; and Emma Morrison, who did the Architectural Technology degree module.

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.

Neil Stewart, chairman of the Inverness College UHI Board of Management, said: “It is the first year the Board of Management has decided to have its own award and I can’t think of a more fitting winner for its inaugural year. Ruth has thrived both academically and personally as an Inverness College UHI student and proved to herself, but also others, just what can be achieved if you put your mind to it.”