Thursday 6 October 2011
FVC Students Graduate At Castle
Stirling Castle’s Great Hall was packed on Tuesday evening (October 4th) for the third of Forth Valley College’s annual graduation ceremonies.
A total of 124 students were eligible to graduate at the event where Brian McQuade the Managing Director Scotland of Miller Construction (UK) Ltd addressed the audience as guest speaker. FVC Principal Linda McKay and Hugh Hall Chairman of the FVC Board of Management also spoke on the night. Depute Principal Dr Ken Thomson read out the names of those collecting their scrolls.
Former BA Art and Design student Mandy Tait (41) won an Excellence in Creative Enterprise award in recognition of setting up her own Alloa based craft and design firm – Natty Maid - after completing a self-employment programme through the college.
The other award winner on the night was Bathgate man John Paling (46) – who graduated with a General Certificate in the National Examination Board in Occupational Safety and Health (NEBOSH) – and was presented with the prestigious John Glen Award.
Mandy said: “This is absolutely fantastic. I started at Clackmannanshire College in 2002 doing an HNC in Design for Craft, but never had the privilege of graduating as there wasn’t enough interest from the students to have a ceremony.
“Now I have come to be part of this graduation environment and accept this award in the castle with the pipe band playing - I finally feel part of a graduation ceremony and am really proud to be here. I’m totally chuffed.”
The John Glen Award is presented annually to the FVC student who achieves the highest mark in the NEBOSH General Certificate and is in memory of a respected FVC Health and Safety lecturer John Glen.
This year there was only ever going to be one winner as the recipient not only scored the highest mark in the college, but scored the highest mark in the UK.
John – Mechanical Engineering Business Leader at Diageo’s Cameronbridge Distillery in Fife – had earlier in the year came out top of 12,000 students across the UK to land the John Locke Award for the Highest Achievement in the NEBOSH course.
John who likes to keep-fit and is married to Carol (44) and has two teenage sons, said: “My wife and the boys are very proud of me as it has come out of the blue, but I am delighted. I suppose it has also shown Jack and Ewan just what you can achieve if you apply yourself. My lecturers said try to study at least one hour every night – which I did - and I must say it is starting to rub off on them too!
The final presentation of the evening was made by FVC Chairman Hugh Hall to former FVC Board Member Euan Bell-Scott. Euan was presented with a Forth Valley College Honorary Fellowship Award, which is in recognition of outstanding service by an individual to the College, its learners and the local community.
FVC Principal Linda McKay said:
“All this year’s award winners have worked very hard in the course of their studies and have been a credit to themselves and to the College. I would like to wish them all the best in their future careers and am confident they will make a success of whatever they choose to do.”
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