Three UHI Inverness graduates to be presented with special prizes

Three UHI Inverness graduates will receive academic awards at next week’s graduation ceremony in recognition of their exceptional achievements.

Lucy Kingham (23) from Dores, who is graduating with BEng Electrical and Electronic Engineering with distinction, will be presented with the Sidney Black Memorial Engineering Award, an annual prize celebrating outstanding female engineering students at the University of the Highlands and Islands (UHI).

Gordon Stephen (58) from Elgin, graduating with BEng Electrical and Mechanical Engineering with distinction, is this year’s winner of the UHI Prize for Engineering Excellence.

Garden Campbell (29) from Fraserburgh, a BEng (Hons) Civil Engineering graduate, is this year’s recipient of the Institution of Civil Engineers (ICE) Student Prize for the best-performing UHI Inverness civil engineering undergraduate.

All three will be presented with awards at the UHI Inverness morning graduation ceremony on Thursday, 12 November at Eden Court Theatre, Inverness.

The Sidney Black Memorial Engineering Award is donated to UHI by Lois Gray, an engineering lecturer at UHI North, West and Hebrides, in memory of her late father, Sidney Black. It is given in his name to inspire new female engineers to achieve their full potential.

Lucy, a former Inverness Royal Academy pupil who works for the operations team at SSEN Transmissions, said:

"Completing my BEng in Electrical and Electronic Engineering part time alongside developing my career in the energy industry has required a great deal of hard work and determination, so receiving this recognition means an enormous amount to me and is something I am extremely proud of. Knowing the story and purpose behind this award makes it even more meaningful, and I hope I can continue to encourage and support the next generation of female engineers in the same spirit.” 

Lois said:

“Lucy has demonstrated commitment to her studies whilst working full time and was able to draw on her work experience to motivate others.”

The UHI Prize for Engineering Excellence, donated by Willie Printie, is awarded annually to graduating students from across the university who have progressed from an engineering apprenticeship and further education qualifications to excel in their degree. 

Gordon started studying a degree at UHI Inverness after he missed the challenge of pushing his capabilities when he left the RAF after 35 years. He has now embarked on a new career with Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency (DVSA) as a Market Surveillance Unit Engineer.

Gordon said:

“It gave me exactly the challenge I was looking for. I would like to thank Willie Printie for his generous support of engineering students, and all my lecturers whose dedication, professionalism and personal investment helped make the degree a reality for me.”

Gordon’s lecturer Gregor Thurlow-White said:

“One of Gordon's most notable qualities is his desire to use engineering to make a positive difference to the lives of others. This was particularly evident in the project he undertook, which focused on mobility scooter design. Inspired by a design issue he had identified through a loved one's experience, Gordon developed a thoughtful and engaging project that showcased not only his technical ability but also his compassion.”

Willie Printie said: 

"Gordon is a very deserving winner of this year’s UHI Prize for Engineering Excellence. His journey from practical engineering skills in the RAF to excelling in his degree embodies exactly what this award celebrates. I congratulate him on his achievement and wish him every success in his future career.”

The ICE Student Prize is an annual award for undergraduates in the last two years of their civil engineering degree course. 

This year’s winner Garden gained his degree with first-class honours as a graduate apprentice which has led to a new position as Principal Engineer of Bridge Maintenance at Aberdeenshire Council.

Garden said:

“I'm absolutely delighted to be receiving this award. It's a real honour to have all my hard work recognised. Studying at UHI Inverness has been a hugely rewarding experience, particularly with the challenge of balancing my university studies with a full-time career and young family. I'm very proud of what I've achieved and look forward to building on this experience as I progress in my engineering career.”

His lecturer John McLachlan said:

“Garden has demonstrated a strong commitment and ability to manage his studies with busy employment schedules and family life. He has always shown a keen interest in his course and clearly enjoys his job.”