Graduation 2019
This year’s graduation ceremony, held at the Perth Concert Hall on Thursday 3 October, saw over 320 graduates presented with their degrees, diplomas, certificates and awards.
“Many friendships made here will last a lifetime”
Dr Margaret Cook, Perth College UHI Principal
Her Royal Highness The Princess Royal attended the ceremony in her role as chancellor of the University of the Highlands and Islands.
She offered our graduating students the following advice:
“As you embark on a new stage of your life, take pride in what you have achieved, remember those who have helped you and use the knowledge, skills and values you have developed to make a positive contribution to our world.
“I wish you every success for the future and hope you keep in touch with the university in years to come. The university is proud of our alumni and hopes that you, in turn, will be a proud member of the University of the Highlands and Islands community.”
We were delighted to have the mace
Our beautiful mace is used at the university’s graduation ceremonies across the region and symbolises the Highlands and Islands.
Gifted by the universities of Edinburgh, Aberdeen and Strathclyde - the University of the Highlands and Islands mace was designed by Edinburgh College of Art’s jewellery and silversmithing department, and made by Edinburgh silversmiths Hamilton and Inches.
The mace is made from silver and wood – with indigenous Scottish light ash for the shaft – and some gold and mixed metals in the detail. The ornamentation symbolises sand or beaches, water and air, while the lower mount is adorned with three 18ct yellow gold wires depicting mountains. A concave plate is mounted at the very bottom of the mace, reflecting the theme of water and waves.
We had an inspiring Keynote Speaker
We were really honoured to have Cameron McNeish as our keynote speaker for this year’s ceremony. Cameron is an award-winning writer and television presenter whose fields of interest include mountaineering, hill-walking, backpacking, cycle touring, mountain biking and Scots and Irish traditional music.
During his inspiring speech, he asked our graduates what they thought that they could achieve and if they were willing to believe that they could follow their dreams and achieve the things they desired.
“Anything and everything can happen. And being open to that fact allows you infinitely more options than those who put an invisible barrier on possibility. Without question, you must believe what you’re doing is possible. Whatever the mind can conceive and believe, it can achieve.
“There’s an old saying that when old folk like me are asked if they had any regrets they very rarely say: ‘I wish I had spent more time in the office.’
“But I can say that. I genuinely wish I had spent more time in my office – in the mountains and wild places of the world.”
We honoured exceptional achievement
Lewis Melloy being awarded the University of the Highlands and Islands Undergraduate Student of the Year 2019 for Perth College UHI.
A number of graduates who won awards for exceptional achievement were honoured at the end of the ceremony and presented with special prizes for their efforts.
Lewis Melloy was awarded the University of the Highlands and Islands Undergraduate Student of the Year 2019 for Perth College UHI. A BSc (Hons) Sport and Fitness student, he was nominated because of his positive contribution to the college, the department, his course development and the support he gave to his peers along the way.
The Perth College UHI Alumnus of the Year Award 2019 was awarded to Andrew Fairlie (Posthumous Award), and was presented to his wife Kate Fairlie. Andrew enjoyed a stellar career in the hospital and food industry, highlights including cooking for Her Majesty The Queen and world leaders and gaining two Michelin stars with his Restaurant Andrew Fairlie within the heart of the iconic Gleneagles Hotel and Resort. Andrew retired from the kitchen in December 2017 to spend more time with his family and passed on 22nd January 2019.
We awarded two Honorary Doctorates
Peter May, an award-winning author, was presented with an Honorary Doctorate. Born and brought up in Glasgow, Peter started his career as a journalist, writing for publications including The Scotsman and The Glasgow Evening Times.
Our second Honorary Doctorate was John Keay - a historian who specialises in India, Southeast Asia and China. He also writes on Scotland. Born and educated in England, he was a modern history scholar at the University of Oxford but has now lived in the West Highlands for nearly 50 years.
The memory of Liam Colgan was kept alive
Two new awards were presented at this year’s graduation, established by the family of Liam Colgan who gained a BA (Hons) in Popular Musical Performance at Perth College UHI in 2010. He tragically died while on his brother’s stag weekend in Hamburg in 2018.
The Liam Colgan song writing award was awarded to Lora Macleod and The Liam Colgan music production award was awarded to Liam Cole, both Bachelor of Arts with Honours Popular Music (First) graduates.
Due to this fund, Lora and Liam will have the opportunity to develop and enhance their song writing and performing skills and keep Liam’s music alive.
Sporting Excellence Was Recognised
Thea Sinclair (23), a HNC Health, Fitness and Exercise student, was awarded a Sporting Blues Full Blue Award for her success in martial arts. Thea has secured various karate titles including; Mediterranean and Malta Champion and Scottish Champion. Last year she was selected to represent Scotland at the World Championships. Looking forward, she is now working towards her performance at the European Championships in May 2020.
No.1 Fencer for Scotland 2018, Toby Carter (18), a HNC student at Perth College UHI, was awarded a Sporting Blues Full Blue Award for his representation of Scotland in various Junior and Senior Men's fencing competitions - leading to his selection for both the Junior Commonwealth Fencing Championships in Newcastle and Senior Commonwealth Fencing Championships in Australia in 2018.
Tomasz Wysocki (32), a NC Sports and Fitness at Perth College UHI, was awarded a Sporting Blues Full Blue Award for his success in mountain biking. From Poland, Tomasz began cycling when he was 18 years old. Recently, Tomasz suffered an accident while cycling which resulted in him breaking six ribs, but this did not discourage him from continuing to compete, and he has since secured first place in the Scottish Student Championships.
The Sporting Blues awards scheme is a joint initiative between the University of the Highlands and Islands (UHI) and Highlands and Islands Students’ Association (HISA), acknowledging the sporting excellence of the students and alumni.
Our traditional procession walked through Perth City Centre
And finally…we wished you Good Luck for the future!
“We are all very proud of you and of your achievements and I hope that you will keep in touch as alumni. We will always be here to support your ongoing personal and professional development, whatever road you choose to go down. Congratulations and good luck for the future.” – Dr Margaret Cook, Perth College UHI Principal
