A DETERMINED student who didn’t let time or tide affect his studies has been named as the Argyll College UHI student of the year.
David McFarlane, a 25 year-old from Sandbank, near Dunoon, attended evening classes over two years to obtain an HNC in construction management from the University of the Highlands and Islands.
Despite also having a full-time job in the construction industry which involves lots of travel, he never missed a class and consistently produced high-quality work.
David’s attendance was also unaffected by having to take a ferry to class.
Based at the Dunoon Learning Centre, he studied through Argyll College UHI, part of the university network. He began his course while living at nearby Sandbank, but had to catch a ferry to attend his last few weeks of classes when he moved across the water to Gourock in Inverclyde.
David’s unwavering positive attitude in the face of such circumstances as well as his readiness to support other students was also commended by staff.
Morag Gilmour, manager of the Dunoon Learning Centre, said: “David is in full-time employment and the nature of his work means he can be working many miles away from our centre in Dunoon.
“He consistently attended his studies no matter what distance he had to travel or what conditions the Argyll climate threw at him.
“He has shown great commitment in circumstances where it would have been very easy to make excuses. He was an excellent student; reliable, competent and always had a smile.”
David said: “I really enjoyed the course and learned a lot from it. At times it was hard going, but it was definitely worth it.
“The course will benefit me a great deal at work as it gives me more of an insight into all aspects of the construction industry and a better understanding of it all.”
Argyll College UHI director, Michael Breslin, said: “I am hugely impressed with David’s determination to succeed and I am delighted he has become the Argyll College UHI student of the year. I’d like to wish David all the best in his future career in the construction industry.”
David wins £150 as the Argyll College UHI student of the year. He will be presented with his award at Oban in early October and will go forward as a candidate for the overall University of the Highlands and Islands student of the year award.
ENDS
Notes to editors:
The University of the Highlands and Islands comprises thirteen further and higher education colleges, specialist colleges and research institutions, distributed throughout the Highlands and Islands of Scotland. They are bound together through constitutional, management and academic structures, and co-ordinated through an executive office. Collectively, this is referred to as the UHI partnership.
There are currently over 7,500 students studying on undergraduate and postgraduate courses or undertaking postgraduate research with the University.
The University of the Highlands and Islands is the only university with campuses and headquarters based in the Highlands and Islands. Its mission is to strengthen and develop the social, economic and cultural prospects of the region. It uses a blend of learning methods, including traditional classroom face-to-face teaching, video-conferencing tutorials and lectures and virtual learning environments and other IT media.
The University of the Highlands and Islands is a limited company registered in Scotland No. 148203. Scottish charity No. SC022228. Registered office: 12B, Ness Walk, Inverness, IV3 5SQ.
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