Forth Valley College’s Student of the Year for 2019 (sponsored by SQA) is HNC Working With Communities student Kerry Reid from Stenhousemuir.
Kerry (38) who graduated at the Falkirk Town Hall ceremony on the evening of Tuesday 1 October, also won the Most Inspirational Student in the Department of Business and Communities (sponsored by Lyreco) at the event.
More than 1000 students were eligible to graduate this year from Forth Valley College and 195 at Falkirk.
Hector MacAulay, Managing Director of Balfour Beatty gave the keynote speech at the Falkirk event and the Alloa Bowmar Pipe Band were on hand to lead in the top table and guests of honour at the ceremony
Kerry, who has just started a BA Community Education at the University of the West of Scotland, said: “My God I can’t believe it. I have put a lot of hard work in and I am proud of myself, but I could not have done it without the support of my lecturers, especially Stewart Ritchie.
“I was just amazed to win the Most Inspirational Student award, let alone Student of the Year. The HNC Working With Communities has changed my life. The college is amazing. When I started, I could not even switch on a computer. The college has been brilliant and I can’t thank them enough. It has helped me move on to the next step of my career and I am the first person in my family to ever go to university!”
Forth Valley College Principal Dr Ken Thomson said: “Kerry has demonstrated tremendous qualities throughout her time at Forth Valley College and over the past year has gone above and beyond what has been expected of her. Not only has she reached the heights academically at the college, but she has now progressed to the University of the West of Scotland to continue her studies.
“Kerry is an outstanding student and thoroughly deserves her Student of the Year award. She is a credit to herself, her family and to the College and we know she will continue to excel in her career.”