THE Ayrshire College Students’ Association student president, Angela Alexander, has been elected as women’s officer for 2016/17 at NUS Scotland’s steering committee elections.
Starting from 1 July, Angela will take over from existing NUS Scotland women’s officer, Emily Beever, and will work with trade unions, campaigning and voluntary organisations to influence the Scottish Government to help change students’ lives.
Angela has been a student president within Ayrshire College since 2014 after studying at the college on a Coaching and Developing Sport course.
During her time at college, she was named Sport and Social Science Student of the Year, the Kilmarnock Campus’s Overall Student of the Year and College Candidate of the Year at the SQA Star Awards.
She also picked up the College Development Network Student Contribution award, and this week led her team to the FE Students’ Association of the Year award.
Recently, Angela has been instrumental in encouraging young women in Ayrshire to think about choosing subjects where female participation is traditionally low.
This has been the message behind her ‘#ThisAyrshireGirlCan’ campaign, which First Minister, Nicola Sturgeon, championed on International Women’s Day as she unveiled a specially created DVD celebrating 22 women studying science, technology, engineering and maths (STEM) courses at Ayrshire College.
The principal of Ayrshire College, Heather Dunk, called Angela an “outstanding student leader” that day, and everyone at Ayrshire College is confident that Angela will continue to be a major success in her new role with NUS Scotland.
Ayrshire College chair, Willie Mackie, said: “I knew we had the right person to drive the ‘#ThisAyrshireGirlCan campaign.
“We’re all very sad that it’s Angela’s last year at Ayrshire College, I can only thank her on behalf of the board of management, and on behalf of the staff and students at the college, for what she’s achieved.
“She has really set a high bar. She has rightly been acknowledged locally and nationally for the quality of the work that she’s doing. I wish her every success – and it will be success, because she’s a real talent; she has incredible drive.”
John McTaggart, curriculum manager for sport and fitness at Ayrshire College, said: “Angela’s made a massive difference. Not just to the sport department, and not even just to the college, but to the community. One of Angela’s strengths is that she really cares. She’s an inspirational role model who gives students opportunities.”
Charlotte Mitchell, Student Association advisor at Ayrshire College, said: “Angela has worked tirelessly throughout her tenure as student president to ensure that students have the best experience here at Ayrshire College.
“She has an amazing rapport with students and staff members alike and has helped turn Ayrshire College Students’ Association into an award-winning organisation, achieving ‘FE Students’ Association of the Year’ at the recent NUS Scotland Awards.
“She will be greatly missed by all who work with her but she has left us with a great legacy through the #ThisAyrshireGirlCan campaign and we know that she will continue to make a huge contribution to the student movement through her work as NUS Scotland womens’ officer.”
Angela said of her new position: “It is a massive achievement to be elected into this role, not only as a mature returner to college but also as a student parent.
“I can’t wait to get started! I have set some priorities for this year’s women’s campaign and I’m excited to get to work with amazing women in the student movement to make changes for the better!”
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Ayrshire College contact details…
Contact: Martin Currie
Phone: 01563523501
Email: martin.currie@ayrshire.ac.uk
Website: http://www.ayrshire.ac.uk
