Harry is Student of the Year

Forth Valley College’s Student of the Year award for 2026 says his FVC experience will forever find a special place in his own special heart.

Harry (31) from Carluke who graduated with a HND Professional Cookery with Management, and also won the Most Inspirational Student for Creative, Digital & Leisure Industries (sponsored by Central FM), was a worthy winner of the Forth Valley Chamber of Commerce sponsored top award on Friday October 9 at the Falkirk Campus morning ceremony.

Harry has had to deal with many challenges in his life which would be unimaginable for most people. He had to undergo a heart transplant operation 13 years ago and on top of that he subsequently suffered a stroke, which left him with a brain injury and impairment to the left-hand side of his body.

But this has not stopped Harry – who was named as the British Heart Foundation’s Young Heart Hero in 2015, following his transplant - from following his ambition to become a teacher and a desire to inspire young people to overcome any challenge that is put in front of them. And he is determined to highlight how FVC has made him stronger and thoroughly prepared him for moving on to university and a teaching career. Read his full case study here https://www.forthvalley.ac.uk/case-studies/harry-prentice

On his Student of the Year Award win, Harry, said: “Winning Student of the Year means so much to me and I feel incredibly proud, honoured and grateful that the College has recognised my hard work and the progress I have made over the last year. I never expected an award like this and I am deeply grateful to those who have helped me to reach this point.

“Forth Valley College genuinely invests in its students as individuals. Because of my acquired brain injury I have faced challenges in education, and have not always felt fully understood. At Forth Valley College, the difference has been the willingness to understand how I learn and communicate. The support here is about recognising my individuality and finding my strengths and giving me the genuine opportunity to succeed. Thanks very much Forth Valley College!”

Forth Valley College Principal Kenny MacInnes, said: “Harry’s journey is truly remarkable and he is a very worthy winner of this year’s Student of the Year award. He also deserves to be recognised as the Most Inspirational Student in the Department of Creative, Digital and Leisure Industries, and he has put himself on the path to a great career.

“We are all very proud of what he has achieved and he should be very proud of himself too. We wish Harry all the best with his future studies at university, and we will be watching his progress with interest. We are sure he will have a very successful career in Hospitality and teaching ahead.”

Forth Valley College’s Falkirk Campus hosted three successful graduation events on Friday 9 October.

Around 700 students were eligible to graduate this year from Forth Valley College and 230 of them chose to collect their certificates at the ceremonies, which were held at the College’s headquarters for the fourth time.

Guest speaker at the morning ceremony (Creative, Digital and Leisure Industries) from 10-11.15am was Colonel Charles Wallace Lord Lieutenant of Stirling and Falkirk, while at the 1pm-2.15pm event (Care, Sport, Business and Communities) Paul Devoy Interim Chief Executive of the Scottish Funding Council gave the keynote speech, and at the final ceremony from 4pm-5.15pm (STEM and Construction) David Macdonald Regional Director of the Civil Engineering Contractors Association (CECA) Scotland, spoke to the assembled graduates and guests.

Forth Valley Board of Management members Emma MacGregor (morning), Suzanne Reynolds (lunchtime) and Phillip Harris (afternoon) gave the Vote of Thanks at their respective ceremonies.

The Alloa Bowmar Pipe Band were on hand to lead in the top tables and stage parties at all three ceremonies.

Prizewinners throughout the day were: Edyta Muiselak (38) from Stirling who won Most Promising Student for Creative, Digital & Leisure Industries (sponsored by Vass Media); Rachael Bell (24) from Camelon who was presented with Most Promising Student for Care, Sports, Business & Communities (sponsored by Rotary Club of Falkirk); Lindsay Henderson-Miller (39) from Cowie who scooped Most Inspirational Student for Care, Sports, Business & Communities (sponsored by Drummond Laurie Chartered Accountants); Keyon Ho (20) from Falkirk who won Most Promising Student for STEM & Construction (sponsored by OCS); and Lee Cooper (47) from Galashiels who landed the Most Inspirational Student for STEM & Construction award (sponsored by McLaughlin & Harvey).

Photographs on the day were taken by Agnieszka Swierzko, Vasylyna Ozhha and Andreanna Taylor from HND Photography.