THE University of the Highlands and Islands has announced its 2018 Student of the Year winners, with all three of its top awards going to students who were enrolled at island campuses.
Rhea Kay from Shetland College UHI has been named as the Higher Education Student of the Year, Crisdean Saunders from Lews Castle College UHI is the Further Education Student of the Year and James Ellsmoor, a distance-learning student who was enrolled at Orkney College UHI, has been awarded the Postgraduate Student of the Year title.
Rhea Kay (23) from Whalsay, recently completed the university’s BA (Hons) in contemporary textiles. She was nominated for the Student of the Year award in recognition of her exceptional academic achievement, professional attitude and creativity.
Contemporary textiles programme leader, Faye Hackers, explained: “Rhea has been an excellent student – she is hard working, good in a team, has strong creative ideas and is focused on contemporary design trends. She’s been recognised in national competitions, secured placements with commercial companies and represented the university at the New Designers Graduate Fair in London.
“She is also a great example of progression within the college, showing the opportunities available in Shetland, having come through our vocational programme while still at school, progressing onto our NC art and design course then graduating with a first class honours degree.”
James Ellsmoor (25) from Shropshire graduated from the university’s island studies MLitt last month. He completed the course as a distance-learning student enrolled at Orkney College UHI’s Institute of Northern Studies and was commended for this academic and entrepreneurial abilities.
Dr Andrew Jennings, a lecturer at the Institute, said: “James has been an excellent student who achieved high grades while travelling the world pursuing his career.
“Despite being only 25, he is the co-founder and director of Solar Head of State, a non-profit organisation which works with small island communities to promote solar energy. He partnered with the Jamaican government to install solar panels on government buildings in Kingston and has spoken at conferences in Hawaii, Bermuda, Japan, Haiti and Mallorca. James is a high-flyer destined to achieve great things.”
Crisdean Saunders (27) from Stornoway has completed a horticultural employability programme at Lews Castle College UHI. He was nominated for the Further Education Student of the Year award by his tutor, David Bell.
David explained: “Crisdean approached us in 2016 as he was looking for something to do following a period of inactivity. He decided to join the horticulture course to enhance the possibility of securing employment. Crisdean proved to have a great interest in horticulture, always asking questions to further his knowledge.
“He would take in seeds and cuttings and grow them with great success and was happy to help others and take on leadership roles. He has now secured a job setting up allotments in a village not far from where he stays and helping older people to grow vegetables – a fantastic achievement!”
The Student of the Year winners have each been presented with a certificate and cheque at their graduation ceremonies.
Speaking about her award, Rhea said: “I feel quite overwhelmed, but also very grateful to have been awarded with these two awards. As a creative, the chance to explore and develop my skills within such a supportive and inspiring place as Shetland has been really important to me both personally and professionally. A huge thank you to everyone who has helped me throughout the years!”
Crisdean commented: “When I was told I won this award I was very surprised. I started the course as something to do and didn’t expect to find a job or to win any awards.”
James said: “I am delighted to have won this award! It has really been an honour to represent the university’s academic programme at international events and tell people about the importance of both the island studies programme and the university’s unique distance learning methods.”
ENDS
AN t-oilthigh a’ foillseachadh bhuannaichean Oileanach na Bliadhna
Tha Oilthigh na Gàidhealtachd agus nan Eilean an dèidh buannaichean Oileanach na Bliadhna 2018 fhoillseachadh, agus na trì duaisean as àirde air fad air am buileachadh air oileanaich a bha air an clàradh air àrainnean eileanach.
Chaidh Rhea Kay o Cholaiste Shealtainn UHI ainmeachadh mar Oileanach Foghlam Àrd-ìre na Bliadhna, is e Crisdean Saunders o Cholaisde a’ Chaisteil UHI Oileanach Foghlam Adhartach na Bliadhna agus tha tiotal Oileanach Iar-cheum na Bliadhna air a bhuileachadh air James Ellsmoor, oileanach ionnsachadh air astar a bha air a chlàradh an Colaiste Arcaibh UHI.
Chuir Rhea Kay (23) à Whalsay crìoch air BA (Urr) an oilthigh ann an obair-aodaich an latha an-diugh o chionn ghoirid. Chaidh a h-ainmeachadh airson duais Oileanach na Bliadhna mar chreideas airson nan sàr euchdan acadaimigeach aice, a seasamh-inntinn proifeiseanta agus cho cruthachail is a tha i.
Thuirt ceannard prògram obair-aodaich an latha an-diugh, Faye Hackers: “Is e oileanach air leth a bh’ ann an Rhea – tha i oidhirpeach, math ann an sgioba, tha beachd-smuaintean cruthachail làidir aice agus tha fasain dealbhaidh an latha an-diugh gu mòr air a h-aire. Choisinn i cliù ann am farpaisean nàiseanta, fhuair i greisean-gnìomhachais le companaidhean malairteach is riochdaich i an t-oilthigh aig Faidhir Cheumnaichean nan Dealbhadairean Ùra ann an Lunnainn. Is e sàr eisimpleir a th’ innte cuideachd de leantanas taobh a-staigh den cholaiste a leigeas fhaicinn na cothroman a th’ ann ann an Sealtainn, agus i air tighinn tron phrògram dhreuchdail againn nuair a bha i fhathast san sgoil, a’ dol air aghaidh chun a’ chùrsa againn airson an teisteanais nàiseanta ann an ealain is dealbhadaireachd agus a’ cosnadh ceum na dhèidh sin le urram sa chiad rang.”
Tha James Ellsmoor (25) à Shropshire air ceumnachadh o MLitt eòlas eileanach an oilthigh air a ‘mhìos a chaidh seachad. Rinn e an cùrsa mar oileanach ionnsachadh air astar is e air a chlàradh ann an Institiud Eòlas na h-Àirde Tuath aig Colaiste Arcaibh UHI, agus chaidh a mholadh airson nan comasan acadaimigeach is tionnsgaineach aige.
Thuirt an t-Oll Andrew Jennings, òraidiche san Institiud: “Bha James na oileanach air leth a choisinn ìrean àrda aig an aon àm ri bhith a’ siubhal an t-saoghail ri a’ chùrsa-dhreuchd. Ged nach eil e ach 25, tha e air fear den fheadhainn a stèidhich Solar Head of State, air a bheil e na stiùiriche. Is e a tha seo buidheann neo-phrothaid a dh’oibricheas le coimhearsnachdan beaga eileanach a dh’adhartachadh lùth grèine. Rinn e com-pàirteachas ri riaghaltas Shiameuca airson panailean-grèine a shuidheachadh air togalaichean righaltais ann an Kingston, agus bha e a’ bruidhinn aig colabhairtean ann an Hawaii, Bearmùda, an t-Seapan, Haiti agus Mallorca. Is e fear sàr-chomasach a th’ ann an James a nì treubhas fhathast.”
Tha Crisdean Saunders (27) à Steòrnabhagh an dèidh crìoch a chur air prògram so-fhastachd ann an gàirneileachd aig Colaisde a’ Chaisteil UHI. Chaidh ainmeachadh airson duais Oileanach Foghlam Adhartach na Bliadhna leis an oide aige, David Bell.
Thuirt David: “Thàinig Crisdean ar n-ionnsaigh ann an 2016, is e ag iarraidh rudeigin a dhèanadh e an dèidh treis de dhìomhanas. Chuir e roimhe gun gabhadh e sa chùrsa gàirneileachd gus am biodh barrachd cothruim aige air cosnadh. Fhuaras gu robh ùidh mhòr aig Crisdean ann an gàirneileachd, agus e daonnan a’ cur cheistean gus an cuireadh e ris an eòlas aige. Ghabhadh e pòr is gearraidhean is bheireadh e fàs orra le soirbheachadh mòr, agus bhiodh e toilichte cuideachadh le càch agus a bhith a’ stiùireadh ghnothaichean. Tha cosnadh aige a-nis a’ stèidheachadh ghàraidhean-màil ann am baile beag gun a bhith fad às an àite anns a bheil e a’ fanachd agus a’ cuideachadh le seana dhaoine a bhith a’ toirt fàs air lusan – sàr euchd gu dearbh!”
Fhuair gach aon de bhuannaichean Oileanach na Bliadhna teisteanas agus seic sna cuirmean-ceumnachaidh aca.
A bruidhinn air a duais thuirt Rhea: “Is mi tha aoibhneach fhèin, ach taingeil cuideachd, gun deach an dà dhuais seo a bhuileachadh orm. Agus mi nam ealantair cruthachail, is mòr am math a rinn e dhomh, gu pearsanta is gu proifeiseanta an dà chuid, cothrom a bhith agam mo sgilean fhidreadh is a leasachadh ann an àite a bheir taic is spreigeadh cho mòr is a bheir Sealtainn. Mo bhuidheachas mòr do gach uile duine a chuidich leam fad nam bliadhnaichean!”
Thuirt Crisdean: “Nuair a chaidh innse dhomh gun do bhuannaich mi an duais seo bha mi air leth iongantach. Thòisich mi air a ‘chùrsa mar rud ri dhèanamh agus cha robh dùil agam obair fhaighinn no duaisean sam bith a bhuannachadh. “
Thuirt James, “Tha mi anabarrach fhèin toilichte gun do choisinn mi an duais seo! Is e fior urram a bh’ ann a bhith a’ riochdachadh prògram acadaimigeach an oilthigh aig tachartsasan eadarnàiseanta agus a bhith ag innse do dhaoine cho cudromach is a tha an dà chuid am prògram eòlas eileanach agus modhan ionnsachaidh air astar an oilthigh a tha gun choimeas”
CRÌOCH
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